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Guest post from the Angry Librarian
Go to any public library in the country and you are likely to see banks of computers designated for internet use by the “patrons”. These computers need to be removed from the library.
Here’s Why:
Collectively and overall, patrons who come to the library strictly for internet access are rude, loud, disrespectful of other patrons and the library in general. They are demanding and unable to understand the simple rules for signing into a computer. Many do not use the library for any other purpose.
These me-me-me knuckleheads will walk up to the desk while the librarian is in the middle of helping a REAL patron with a legitimate library purpose and demand to be helped with their computer problem. Unbelievably rude.
If the internet users are not busy being rude, they are busy trying to get the librarian to help them print or logon. In the meantime, real patrons have to wait to conduct their legitimate library business.
By far, the internet users are the worst about cell phone usage (Loud, obnoxious ringtones or loud, obnoxious cell convos), they are the worst about letting their little heathens run lap around the stacks playing cowboys and indians and they are by far the worst about trashing the joint with their candy wrappers and scraps of paper.
They gripe when all of the computers are taken or when, due to their supreme ineptitude, they only have five minutes available on the computer they signed into. Hey idiot, the reason you only have five minutes is because that computer is reserved for someone intelligent enough to have followed the rules and make a legit reservation.
I don’t get why it is that these things need to be in the library anyway. If they need to be in a public location, why not haul them down to City Hall or the Courthouse. With any luck, maybe Mr. Obama will get elected to a second term so that he can implement his Ministry of Information and the internet computers can all be located in State sanctioned People’s Quonset Huts.
In the interest of fairness, I will say that there are some users of the internet services who are just the nicest, most respectful folk and I genuinely enjoy seeing them walk through the door. How sad that these folks are such a minority.
Some folks may opine that having the internet computers at the libraries brings in patrons. No it doesn’t. It brings in internet computer users. Most will not patronize the library for any other service other than checking out videos that they return weeks late.
I’ve got no issue with the downtrodden needing to have access to the internet. These days it’s darn near a necessity to do some business online. I just believe that these internet access computers belong somewhere other than the library.
At my library it’s usually people who don’t have a computer who are using them. And they don’t seem to be causing any problems – maybe it’s because my branch is a smaller one.
I don’t where would be a better place to have them …
When I worked at a public library in Tucson we wouldn’t stock tax forms because people expected the librarians to help them with their taxes – the only way to deal with the problem was to remove the forms completely.
And I used to work in a computer lab when I was in grad school – we were there to assist with any computer related issues but so many students would try to get us to help them with their homework. I had someone yell at me when I told him I couldn’t help with his database assignment. He told me I was probably too stupid to help him – hmm, I got in the A in the class that he was trying to do an assignment for
.-= Kim Woodbridge´s last blog ..How to Not Ask For WordPress or Facebook Help =-.
I imagine that things are different in different libraries, but as a frequent visitor to our local, small town library, I find that most of the users of computers are pretty well behaved — at least at the times that I’m there.
I used to go quite often with my laptop as they have WiFi access and I didn’t have broadband at home at that point. But I did spend a fair amount of time getting books for myself and the kids. The only really boisterous people I ever saw there were high school kids just hanging out (not using computers).
Libraries are about the free access to knowledge. It used to be that books were the only source, but that is no longer true, so computers and the internet have a legitimate place in them. It may take some time to get people to learn the proper behaviour, but removing the computers isn’t the way to do it.
.-= LoneWolf´s last blog ..Internet Marketing Gone Wild =-.
Are you joking? I hope you’re joking. Please be joking.
If you’re a librarian who really believes that the internet has no place in the modern library, I can only hope you’re close to retirement. I’m tired of the stereotype of the grumpy, crusty librarian who thinks their job is to disseminate silence rather than information.
.-= Jen Brubacher´s last blog ..Friday Flash: "The Idea" =-.
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Yes, computers in libraries will bring in internet users but, as one commenter has pointed out, printed books and magazines are not the only way to disseminate information.
I don’t see terrible behavior in my local library. As a matter of fact, many people who spend time on the computer here do leave with several books under their arms for their home reading.
Change is very difficult for some people, I’m sure. If one looks at the coursework required in Library Science classes in many universities, digital information management is at the top.
It’s usually a few who ruin it for many, and perhaps the usual suspects in your library are the only ones that need to be set to rights.
.-= Marisa Birns´s last blog ..Minstrel =-.
An interesting article to get people’s dander up. In most libraries I’ve been in, I haven’t had any problems with computer users. Granted, on the other hand, perhpas computers shouldn’t be located out in the open where it could potentially cause some disruptions. Perhaps all large libraries should have their computers in a separate room like many colleges have (at least the ones I’ve been to). But, no, computers in general should not be removed from libraries.
Carrie
If it weren’t for free access to computers connected to the internet, I would have had a very difficult time finding a job several years back.
Having computers available for public use is one way to help level the playing field and make sure all people have access to what is increasingly becoming a necessity.
Sure, patrons might not always be doing “worthy” things with their online time, but they are getting exposure to how the internet works.
I say the answer is to give libraries more funding, increase the number of employees available who can help teach people how to use the computers and employees who can enforce library policies.
You know, after I submitted that last comment I realized I wanted to say that this:
Some folks may opine that having the internet computers at the libraries brings in patrons. No it doesn’t. It brings in internet computer users. Most will not patronize the library for any other service other than checking out videos that they return weeks late.
Really bothered me. I think it’s an elitist attitude – they are patrons of the library, using a service that the library is providing. To me, it’s wonderful that people who might not have access to the internet can go to the library and have it for free. I can’t think of many finer uses for my tax dollars.
I will say that I don’t have to work there and I’m sure it’s an annoyance. Honestly though, while I have a lot of sympathy, it’s also called work for a reason.
.-= Tracy´s last blog ..Halfway Through The Blogathon =-.
Very interesting topic.
In my small town library, I see no such problem.
However, I can only imagine that, in these trying days of recession and high unemployment, there are a TON of unfortunate folks who have either had their computer services pulled due to late or non-payment or who have had to pawn or sell their computer on e-Bay or Craigs list just to feed their families (or to feed their drug, gambling, or alcohol habits).
My son-in-law fixes computers for friends and neighbors. One of these so-called friends is on welfare and has been so for many years. Yet, he has a computer and somehow pays for Internet service at his subsidized housing. He has no job, does not even look for a job, and has fathered several illigitimate children. I can picture him being a library computer user.
Is he a bad patron? Or is he just irresponsible in his life choices? Probably both. Someone to be shunned? Or someone who deserves to be treated with basic dignity? What would Jesus do?
But with this country’s massive sense of “entitlement” held by those unfortunate souls, often since infancy, society is pretty much obligated to help these fringe people. Free libraries and computer useage. Free food banks. Free clinics.
One thing I would suggest is this:
Take your librarian to lunch. Or bring your favorite librarian lunch at the library. Call it a random act of kindness for these frontline soldiers of the information age.
As in all areas of life, what goes around, comes around.
YA TAKE EM OUT
Exactly. Take them out.
People don’t learning anything from the internet anyway. It’s all about short form reading, ingesting teensy bits of data in the form of paragraphs here and there and Facebook entries.
The computer + the internet is the largest step backwards in learning in history.