Some of our libraries choose not to let the public use the internet because they have only one computer available and there is no room for the public to access it outside of the librarian’s desk. Also, the kids were coming in after school and mobbing the desk when they did let them use it, so they decided not to. There is no rule saying you MUST let the public use the internet in a library, and some just don’t have the space/money for public access. They will, however, look things up for the public and use internet for reference, just no public use.
Having spent so much time in IA over the past year I should have thought of this as I did meet several librarians with just a single computer in the building. As long as a library isn’t intentionally withholding Internet access I won’t complain.
Michael Sauers is the Director of Logan Library in Logan, UT. Prior to this he was one of the founding staff and Technology Manager for Do Space in Omaha, NE. After earning his MLS in 1995 from the University at Albany's School of Information Science and Policy Michael spent his first 20 years as a librarian training other librarians in technology along with time as a public library trustee, a bookstore manager for a library friends group, a reference librarian, a technology consultant, and a bookseller. He has written dozens of articles for various journals and magazines and has published 14 books ranging from library technology, blogging, Web design, and an index to a popular horror magazine. In his spare time, he blogs at TravelinLibrarian.info, runs The Collector's Guide to Dean Koontz website at CollectingKoontz.com, takes many, many photos, and typically reads more than 100 books a year.
Unless otherwise stated, all opinions are my own and are not to be considered those of the City of Logan, UT.
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