Andrea,
Obviously I gave you many reasons why our computers are being used. Printing airline tickets, printing out directions, printing out book reviews, printing out research papers, students using the computers for class ... these are all services that are provided at our library. I've given instruction to seniors who need to know how to use their email. I've also given instruction to patrons who have used the computers to write reports and need help with word or other software. I've showed patrons how to use databases to do research. It obviously depends on who your users are. Adults and siblings come in to use the computers when they are waiting for someone and have an hour or more to wait. They can watch a DVD, listen to music, catch up on the news and browse our new book and materials collections. It gets them in the door. They may leave with having checked out a DVD or book and grabbed a flyer about an upcoming book club meeting or program . Francine Menken (JCC Library.. West Bloomfield, MI) ----- Original Message ----- From: "Andrea Rapp" <[email protected]> To: "Hasafran" <[email protected]> Sent: Saturday, May 5, 2012 10:54:16 PM Subject: Re: [ha-Safran] adding patron computers Synagogue libraries have significant traffic mainly on the days when religious school is in session, or when there is a special program. JCC''s will have members present in large numbers on all days that they are open, and at just about all hours of the day. So I can see where people would stop in to check email, shop online, etc. They wouldn't save up these things for the 2 days a week when they bring their kids to religious school. So for us synagogue librarians, I'm not sure that providing internet access justifies our existence in any way, except as a minor, ancillary service. And of course, who needs a librarian to run a center where people are checking email and printing their airline tickets? Andrea Rapp Wise Temple, Cincinnati --- On Sat, 5/5/12, [email protected] <[email protected]> wrote: From: [email protected] <[email protected]> Subject: Re: [ha-Safran] adding patron computers To: Cc: "Hasafran" <[email protected]>, "Andrea Rapp" <[email protected]> Date: Saturday, May 5, 2012, 7:17 PM I am the librarian at our JCC. We have a community library open to the public. We have wireless which is used by our patrons. We also have 4 computers in our children's area and 4 computers in our adult area. Quite a few patrons come in to use the Internet. They print out their airline tickets, check their email, etc. We have Sunday school classes in the building and the students use our computers, visit interactive sites and use CDs for some of their school assignments. We also have a Jewish high school and a nursery school so our computers are used by these students. Our catalog is online so patrons can use the catalog at our computer stations. We are looking to upgrade or replace our computers as they are 8 or 9 years old. I would say that having Internet access, wireless and computers has increased our foot traffic. Francine Menken, Head Librarian MLIS Henry & Delia Meyers Library and Media Center Jewish Community Center of Metropolitan Detroit 6600 W. Maple Rd. West Bloomfield, MI 48322 248.432.5546 [email protected] From: "Barbara Mende" <[email protected]> To: "Andrea Rapp" <[email protected]> Cc: "Hasafran" <[email protected]> Sent: Thursday, May 3, 2012 10:03:27 PM Subject: Re: [ha-Safran] adding patron computers It gives the public access to our catalog, which we don't have on the Web. Also, everyone doesn't carry a computer in. But we also get a certain number of people who come in with laptops and use our slow wi-fi. Barbara On May 3, 2012, at 6:51 PM, Andrea Rapp wrote: <blockquote> With laptops, ubiquitous wireless, and tablets, I don't see that having patron computers in our synagogue libraries will do much to increase traffic. Now if we could get *rid* of those things.... Andrea Rapp --- On Thu, 5/3/12, Barbara Mende < [email protected] > wrote: <blockquote> From: Barbara Mende < [email protected] > Subject: Re: [ha-Safran] adding patron computers To: "Helen Chronister" < [email protected] >, " [email protected] " < [email protected] > Date: Thursday, May 3, 2012, 5:47 PM We have one. It doesn't get us a lot more traffic, but a little; and it makes the catalog available even if a lot of Hebrew School parents use it for job hunting. The big consideration we had was to make sure that it wasn't on the synagogue network, for security reasons. This means that I have to manually transport our catalog to the public computer on a flash drive every couple of weeks, but it's no biggie; and if the catalog is small enough to email, you can do that too. Barbara From: Helen Chronister < [email protected] > To: [email protected] Sent: Thursday, May 3, 2012 4:45 PM Subject: [ha-Safran] adding patron computers Library committee members and I have discussed the possibility of adding computers to the synagogue library so that congregants can do research here. I really need something to increase foot traffic. I am looking for advice as to whether this is a good idea and the kinds of things that I need to consider. Thanks, Helen Chronister librarian Congregation Tifereth Israel Minnie Cobey Memorial Library __ Messages and opinions expressed on Hasafran are those of the individual author and are not necessarily endorsed by the Association of Jewish Libraries (AJL) ================================== Submissions for Ha-Safran, send to: [email protected] To join Ha-Safran, update or change your subscription, etc. - click here: https://lists.service.ohio-state.edu/mailman/listinfo/hasafran Questions, problems, complaints, compliments send to: [email protected] Ha-Safran Archives: Current: http://www.mail-archive.com/hasafran%40lists.service.ohio-state.edu/maillist.html Earlier Listserver: http://www.mail-archive.com/hasafran%40lists.acs.ohio-state.edu/maillist.html AJL HomePage http://www.JewishLibraries.org -- Hasafran mailing list [email protected] https://lists.service.ohio-state.edu/mailman/listinfo/hasafran -----Inline Attachment Follows----- __ Messages and opinions expressed on Hasafran are those of the individual author and are not necessarily endorsed by the Association of Jewish Libraries (AJL) ================================== Submissions for Ha-Safran, send to: [email protected] To join Ha-Safran, update or change your subscription, etc. - click here: https://lists.service.ohio-state.edu/mailman/listinfo/hasafran Questions, problems, complaints, compliments send to: [email protected] Ha-Safran Archives: Current: http://www.mail-archive.com/hasafran%40lists.service.ohio-state.edu/maillist.html Earlier Listserver: http://www.mail-archive.com/hasafran%40lists.acs.ohio-state.edu/maillist.html AJL HomePage http://www.JewishLibraries.org -- Hasafran mailing list [email protected] https://lists.service.ohio-state.edu/mailman/listinfo/hasafran </blockquote> __ Messages and opinions expressed on Hasafran are those of the individual author and are not necessarily endorsed by the Association of Jewish Libraries (AJL) ================================== Submissions for Ha-Safran, send to: [email protected] To join Ha-Safran, update or change your subscription, etc. - click here: https://lists.service.ohio-state.edu/mailman/listinfo/hasafran Questions, problems, complaints, compliments send to: [email protected] Ha-Safran Archives: Current: http://www.mail-archive.com/hasafran%40lists.service.ohio-state.edu/maillist.html Earlier Listserver: http://www.mail-archive.com/hasafran%40lists.acs.ohio-state.edu/maillist.html AJL HomePage http://www.JewishLibraries.org -- Hasafran mailing list [email protected] https://lists.service.ohio-state.edu/mailman/listinfo/hasafran </blockquote> __ Messages and opinions expressed on Hasafran are those of the individual author and are not necessarily endorsed by the Association of Jewish Libraries (AJL) ================================== Submissions for Ha-Safran, send to: [email protected] To join Ha-Safran, update or change your subscription, etc. - click here: https://lists.service.ohio-state.edu/mailman/listinfo/hasafran Questions, problems, complaints, compliments send to: [email protected] Ha-Safran Archives: Current: http://www.mail-archive.com/hasafran%40lists.service.ohio-state.edu/maillist.html Earlier Listserver: http://www.mail-archive.com/hasafran%40lists.acs.ohio-state.edu/maillist.html AJL HomePage http://www.JewishLibraries.org -- Hasafran mailing list [email protected] https://lists.service.ohio-state.edu/mailman/listinfo/hasafran
__ Messages and opinions expressed on Hasafran are those of the individual author and are not necessarily endorsed by the Association of Jewish Libraries (AJL) ================================== Submissions for Ha-Safran, send to: [email protected] To join Ha-Safran, update or change your subscription, etc. - click here: https://lists.service.ohio-state.edu/mailman/listinfo/hasafran Questions, problems, complaints, compliments send to: [email protected] Ha-Safran Archives: Current: http://www.mail-archive.com/hasafran%40lists.service.ohio-state.edu/maillist.html Earlier Listserver: http://www.mail-archive.com/hasafran%40lists.acs.ohio-state.edu/maillist.html AJL HomePage http://www.JewishLibraries.org -- Hasafran mailing list [email protected] https://lists.service.ohio-state.edu/mailman/listinfo/hasafran
