PUBLIC COMPUTERS: What If?…

PUBLIC COMPUTERS

General notes about patron computers and PCReservation System
(Some policies may vary by library. Check your library’s policies for specifics.) 

  • PCReservation System controls the reservations and printing queue for all of the patron access computers.
  • Patrons who sign on with a card, or as a guest, will be given an initial 60 minutes appointment. When they have 5 minutes left, if there is no reservation, the session will automatically be extended 15 minutes at a time.
  • If the computers are full, patrons with a library card can make a reservation at the PCReservation stations, or with a staff member. Patrons who do not have a library card have to ask a staff member to make a reservation for them (“Guest Pass”).
  • PCReservation is set to shut all of the patron access computers down at 20 minutes before closing. This cannot be modified from any of the staff computers. When logging on near closing time, patrons should be advised of this, and their allotted time should be indicated to them.
  • Cell phone use is a local library decision but is often allowed in silence mode and with quiet voices.
  • Headphones are advised for listening to any audio on public computers. Patrons may furnish them, and some libraries sell them for a nominal charge.

PUBLIC COMPUTERS: What If?…

A patron doesn’t have a library card to log on?
Follow the steps below to create a guest pass

  1. On the PC Reservation Station, click “Make Reservation.”
  2. Under “Enter Library Card” enter the patron’s first name.
  3. Under “Find a PC in the following Area,” select Lab Area (or any area they ask for.)
  4. If they want a specific machine, you can check “Reserve a specific PC” and choose a computer by area/number (e.g. Lab 12.)
  5. Click Make a Reservation.
  6. Click Override.
  7. Once you get a confirmation, tell the patron which computer they are assigned to.
    The patron needs to enter his name in the Library Card Number field to sign on.
  8. If the patron needs to print as a guest, he will also release their print job with his first name, rather than his library card #.
  9. ***Ask him if he lives, works, or attends school in the library service area or Westchester County. If yes, encourage him to get a library card. ***

A patron needs to lock her computer screen?

  1. Sometimes a patron needs to walk away from the computer for more than a few minutes, and in this case, she must lock her screen or the computer will kick her off.
  2. To lock the screen, find the button in the bottom right hand corner (near the time clock) that says “Other Options” and click “Hide Screen.”
  3. The patron will then have to create a password that she will re-enter when she returns to the computer (to unlock the screen).
  4. The patron’s time will keep ticking down, even when the screen is locked.
  5. If a patron comes back and is unable to re-enter the password, the computer may be unlocked using the PCReservation Module on one of the staff computers.

The computer screen is asking for a username and password?

  1. The computer just needs to be restarted. Turn the computer off and back on.
  2. Envisionware should re-load once the computer restarts.

The computer screen is blank/computer doesn’t wake up?

  1. Check to make sure the monitor is turned on.
  2. Check to make sure the monitor plugs are fully connected to both the monitor and the computer.
  3. Check to make sure the computer is turned on.
  4. If the computer won’t turn on, check to make sure the computer is plugged in to the power outlet.
  5. If none of the above wakes up/turns on the computer, contact a librarian or the WLS helpdesk.

The computer screen says “On Hold”?

  1. This happens when the computer was restarted or shut down improperly, before the patron’s session expired.
  2. If the patron who restarted the computer is still there, she can use her library card or her guest name to log back on to the computer.
  3. If the computer is going to be used by a different patron, then the computer must remain idle for 5 minutes until the hold expires.

The keyboard won’t work?

  1. Check to make sure the keyboard is plugged into the computer, and tighten the plug if necessary.
  2. Check to see if “Sticky Keys” has been activated. An icon will be displayed on the taskbar, and you will need to turn it off.
  3. If the keyboard still doesn’t work, try restarting the computer.
  4. If the keyboard doesn’t work after restart, contact a librarian or the WLS helpdesk.

The sound won’t work?

  1. Check to make sure the patron’s headphones are fully plugged into the headphone jack on the front face of the computer.
  2. Look for the speaker icon in the bottom right hand corner of the task bar on the computer screen. If it has a red “X” sign through it, it means that the sound is muted.
    Click on the speaker and uncheck mute.
  3. Check the headphones on another computer to make sure they are not broken.
  4. If these actions do not correct the problem, contact a librarian or the WLS helpdesk.

The USB port won’t work?

  1. Make sure the patron’s USB stick is fully plugged in to one of the USB drives.
  2. Wait for a minute. It can take a minute for the computer to recognize the device.
  3. Click on “My Computer” on the desktop. The USB drive should appear on the left hand side as a removable storage device.
  4. If the computer still does not recognize the device, try another USB port located on the front face of the computer.
  5. If the computer still doesn’t recognize the device, have the patron try a different computer. (Then repeat steps 1-4). If the device still doesn’t work, it is likely an issue with the patron’s device.
  6. If the new computer recognizes the device, report the problem with the original computer to a librarian or or the WLS helpdesk.

The computer freezes?

  1. Sometimes the computer seems frozen, but really the program a patron is running (Firefox, Internet Explorer, etc.) has just stopped responding. Try restarting the computer by holding down the power button until it shuts off, then turning the computer back on.
  2. The patron will have to either re-enter his library card number, or the name he used to sign on.
  3. If the computer is still not responding appropriately, notify a librarian or the WLS helpdesk.

The computer is not connecting to the internet?

  1. In the bottom right hand corner of the task bar there is an icon that should indicate that that the computer is connected to the internet. It is usually right next to the speaker icon, and it looks like a tiny computer screen.
  2. If the icon indicates that the computer has an internet connection, try using a different browser (Internet Explorer, Firefox, Chrome) to connect to the web.
  3. If the icon indicates that the computer IS NOT connected to the internet, or you cannot connect to the internet via any of the browsers, restart the computer.
  4. If restarting the computer does not connect it to the internet, contact a librarian or the WLS helpdesk.

With credit and thanks to Megan Fenton and the Greenburgh Public Library