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How to book a computer

We provide public computers that you can use for free to surf the net, create documents and access your email. Computers can be booked in advance with a choice of computer terminals and locations. Computer booking is open to members only, using their library borrower card.

 PC Usage

The library offers free PC usage and access to the Internet, however customers are asked to note the following:
• If listening to audio files customers are required to use headphones
• Do not view anything likely to cause offence or embarrassment, specifically you are forbidden to view pornography 
• Do not use the Internet to act illegally

Please note that the use of these PCs is monitored in order to ensure these conditions of use are observed and followed.

You can book:

• a session for up to 60 minutes
• a maximum of three sessions in one day
• a maximum of five sessions up to seven days in advance

Each booking is held for fifteen minutes after the start time. If you do not log-in within that time, your booking for that session will be cancelled.

There are three ways in which you can book a computer:

• ask a member of staff in the store or library
• by calling the library
• self-bookings via Net Loan the library
  
  If you are booking a computer via Net Loan, you will need to enter your membership number for example D000999999 and your PIN number.

Direct Booking and Advance Booking

To access these PC's you need to do one of the following:

• If a PC is free (available) then you may go up to the PC and use Direct Booking, enter your card number and PIN, once you do that it will log you on and you can use the PC for up to one hour.  Direct Booking is only available to the over 16s.

• If you wish to continue to use the same PC for more than one hour the system will log you off, however you can continue to use the PC provided no one else has pre-booked the machine. You will need to enter your card number and PIN again.

• If you wish to make an Advance Booking you can do that by using the library catalogue PC (select the option to book a PC), you will require your card and PIN number. 

PC time allowance

Customers are allowed up to 180 minutes of PC access per day.
The time used can be spread over multiple sessions; the only restriction is that customers do not exceed 180 minutes of usage in one day.

The PC booking system has been configured in such a way that any unused time will carry forward for the remainder of that day.  The personal allowance of 180 minutes is reset at the start of each day.

It is understood that there may be a few exceptional occasions when a customer would like to use a public access PC for more than 180 minutes in one day.  As a public service, we endeavour to allow as many customers as possible to use in store PCs. 

During busy periods, typically between 4pm and 7pm, staff will rigidly enforce the maximum usage limit of 180 minutes per day.  Outside of busy times, if a customer has used all of their allocated time for the day but a PC is available and has not been pre-booked, then the customer may approach a member of staff requesting additional time.  Please do not ask for additional time when it is clear that the PC service is being fully used.

Saving Work

The public access PCs within the library will allow you to save your work on the Z-drive, but please note all saved work will be lost once the customers PC session has ended. 

If you plan to use back-to-back PC sessions, saved work will be lost once the first session ends.  Indeed if your PC session ends unexpectedly (power cut, system reboot, etc) work saved on the Z-drive will also be lost. Staff are powerless to retrieve lost files.

Public access PCs do not contain floppy disk drives hence it is not possible to save work onto a floppy disk.  It is advisable to save work at regular intervals on a removable device such as a USB pen drive.  USB pen drives can be purchased from the helpdesk.

Accessible Equipment

The has a selection of hardware items available for use by customers who have particular needs.  Items available for loan include multi coloured keyboards with large keys, gel wrist supports and PC headphones.  Items are loaned for use with public access PCs and must be returned as soon as the customers PC session has ended.  The text magnification software Supernova is also available on selected PCs. 

Web filtering

Access to the Internet is filtered using hardware and software tools.
Restrictions are in place to prevent access to websites that may cause offence.

Web filtering is not an exact science and you may come across a website that you believe to be incorrectly blocked.  The Idea Stores team realise that it is inconvenient and frustrating when a website is blocked for no apparent reason.  A process has been set up to allow sites to be vetted and potentially added to a safe list. 

If you want to access a web site that you believe to be acceptable but the site is blocked through web filtering, then please complete the Contact Us form and your request will be investigated and you will be notified of the outcome.

FREE Wi-Fi Hotspot

The library has Wi-Fi hotspots allowing customers’ free Internet access via a Wi-Fi enabled laptop or PDA. 

Wi-Fi instructions in a PDF format

We do not loan Laptops or PDAs, customers are required to provide their own equipment. 

Daily time restrictions do not apply when accessing the Internet via Wi-Fi.  To make a Wi-Fi connection you will require the web proxy settings, please ask at the Helpdesk for an instruction sheet on Wi-Fi access.

staff are not permitted to make changes to the settings on laptops or PDAs, guidance can be provided but customers will need to make the changes themselves.  Wi-Fi Internet access is subject to the same web filtering rules as access via the public surf space PCs.

Dedicated study desks with surge protected power sockets are provided within each Idea Stores.  The power sockets within the study desks are solely provided for customers using laptops or PDAs that require external power. The sockets within the study desks are the only power sockets that are available for customers to use, please do not use any other power sockets located around the store.

Printing

Each public access PC is connected to a printer.  Print services are chargeable, the cost is based on the number of pages printed and whether the mono or colour printer is used. Printouts are held in a queue and only released once the customer has paid the relevant charge. It is not currently possible for customers using the WiFi service to print via the public access printers.