[OPLINTECH] PC Cop Software

[Matt Hoffman]

A good solution for many libraries, but not ours.  Tablet Pc's would be
destroyed rather quickly here and would become a maintenance nightmare.
As it is, I believe that the cost of the system we're looking at is
about the same overall as the cost you mention here times the number of
branches we have.  The additional benefit is the reduction in paper
costs and the recouping of paper, toner, and maintenance costs on our
printers.  For example, it's not uncommon that one of our printers rack
up over half a million prints a year.  And that's with a high-volume HP
printer for every 4-5 PC's.  HP's printers are fairly reliable, but they
can't stand up to that kind of punishment forever.  We spend over seven
grand a year just in printer maintenance contracts.  
 
Still, different libraries have different needs and different customer
bases.  Some libraries even have relatively un-used public PC's - this
is certainly not the case here, where virtually every public PC is in
use from the time we open until the time we close.
 
Matt Hoffman
Network Administrator
Cleveland Heights-University Heights Public Library
216-932-3600 x 77284  (fax) 216-932-0932
www.heightslibrary.org <http://www.heightslibrary.org/> 

	-----Original Message-----
	From: oplintech-admin at oplin.org
[mailto:oplintech-admin at oplin.org] On Behalf Of JKENZIG
	Sent: Wednesday, April 06, 2005 3:38 PM
	To: 'OPLINTECH at OPLIN.ORG'
	Subject: FW: [OPLINTECH] PC Cop Software
	
	
	Also Mark just suggested an even better idea to me  which we are
now implementing .... If space really is a limitation you could spend
the money on a WIreless solution and buy wireless webtablets that
patrons can use anywhere in the branch.   We have been able to put in
about 10 web tablets with cisco wireless access for about $15,000 a
branch.  Not only does this give you more access points but now patrons
can bring there own wireless devices in. 
	 
	Jim
	 

  _____  

	From: Matt Hoffman [mailto:mhoffman at heightslibrary.org] 
	Sent: Wednesday, April 06, 2005 3:18 PM
	To: JKENZIG
	Subject: RE: [OPLINTECH] PC Cop Software
	
	
	Well, more PC's are not always a possibility.  You have problems
of space requirements and of staff involvement.  I think that the
primary reasoning for the use of these systems is to get the management
of PC availability out of the hands of the floor staff and into a
scenario where PC availability can more closely follow library policy.
Staff generally feel that having to deal with customers who won't get
off of PC's when others have been waiting is a huge annoyance and a
waste of their time where they could be assisting customers with
reference questions.  We're looking at one of these systems right now,
and from the management's standpoint, being able to recoup some costs
from printing and lessening staff involvement are of great importance.
It's a benefit that more customers will be able to use the PC's during
the day.  
	 
	Our policies are going to be very lenient so that even if a
customer has been on a PC for a lengthy period of time, unless another
customer is waiting to use a PC, they will be able to continue using the
PC's.  There will be no daily limits, but it may be possible that the
customer might have to switch to another machine if another customer has
signed up to the use the current PC.  The fact is that you can make it
fair, as long as you do it the right way.
	 
	
	Matt Hoffman
	Network Administrator
	Cleveland Heights-University Heights Public Library
	216-932-3600 x 77284  (fax) 216-932-0932
	www.heightslibrary.org <http://www.heightslibrary.org/> 

		-----Original Message-----
		From: oplintech-admin at oplin.org
[mailto:oplintech-admin at oplin.org] On Behalf Of JKENZIG
		Sent: Wednesday, April 06, 2005 2:57 PM
		To: 'OPLINTECH'
		Subject: RE: [OPLINTECH] PC Cop Software
		
		
		Not really a direct answer to the question and people on
the list have heard this before from me but here goes again...Why are
you going out of your way to limit what your patrons can do?  Wouldn't
your money be better spent on buying more workstations so you have more
points of access and wouldn't have to limit the time and also put some
of that aside to buy extra paper?  I know these systems are VERY
expensive and require yearly maintence fees.   I just don't believe that
they are the way to go to resolve issues with patrons waiting. Is it
really the best way to spend the taxpayers dollars to benefit them?
		 
		Jim Kenzig
		Network Manager
		Cuyahoga County Public Library

  _____  

		From: Mike Hensel [mailto:] 
		Sent: Wednesday, April 06, 2005 2:41 PM
		To: OPLINTECH
		Subject: [OPLINTECH] PC Cop Software
		
		
		OPLINTECH:
		 
		First, thanks for the information on Tech Connections 6.

		 
		Second, I recently had a sales representative from CMS
visit the library to do a demonstration on PC Cop, a time software and
print management system. I was quite impressed with the product. I have
also investigated PC Reservation so I know all about that product.
		 
		My question is - has anyone heard any information, good
or bad, on PC Cop. I would like to get a better idea of local use in
Ohio.  It is my understanding that CMS has a big portion of the market
out West and is currently trying to expand to the East where PC
Reservation has dominated. 
		 
		Any information would be appreciated.
		 
		Thanks, 
		 
		Mike Hensel
		Communications & Marketing Manager
		London Public Library
		20 E. First Street
		London, OH 43140
		(740) 852-9543 Voice
		(740) 852-3691 Fax
		www.london.lib.oh.us <http://www.london.lib.oh.us/> 
		henselmi at oplin.org
		 
		 

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