Recently in computers Category

Many students have a difficult time finding a computer in the library to quickly print documents before class. I believe that this can simply be solved by restricting access to sites that are unrelated to academics such as facebook, myspace and youtube.

When we redesigned our Paley Library computer commons and opened it up to students in the fall of 2008 we thought it would be a significant improvement, and we are pleased to see that it is being heavily used by Temple University students. In fact, as you point out, the usage is so heavy that it can often be difficult to find a computer, especially when one is in a rush and there is a need for a quick printing job - or anything that will just take a few moments.

You actually raise two issues in your suggestion. First, why can't we make it simpler and faster to just print out a single document. Second, why do we allow students to spend time on web surfing when other students must attend to urgent schoolwork. Both are good questions. As for the second one, please take a look at this prior suggestion in which we respond to this matter.

As for the first item, we think there may be a better solution to the problem than restricting what students can do on the computers. We are going to look into adding an "express printing station" that we would place directly in the printing area in the computer commons. This computer could be used only to retrieve and then send a document to the printers (please note that we would not plan to add a printer for this "express print station" - the existing printers can easily handle the additional jobs coming to them). We think this should be a big help to any student in a hurry who just wants to print something quickly and can't find a free computer.

Finally, please know that we recently added an additional printer on the second floor east of the Paley Library. If you need to print something and you don't see an open computer on the first floor, consider heading to the second floor where we have additional computers.

Thanks again for your suggestion which prompted us to consider how we might further improve library services for our user community.

Your library does not allow visitor get into internet, even if the visitor uses his own laptop. It is unreasonble for a public university to refuse local tax payer to use their library. Suggestion: set up a public access code for vistor so that they can access the internet network, at least as they use their own laptop.

Your message has a few misconceptions that I'd like to clear up. Let's take them one by one:

Your library does not allow visitor get into internet: This is not correct. We do offer access to the Internet to members of the public. But you do need to be on-site and you must use a designated computer. For more information ask about Internet access ask at any Library service desk.

Even if the visitor uses his own laptop: This is correct - BUT - no college or university we know of allows members of the public to access their wireless network on their own laptop. If you know of one, please tell us where to find them. Our wireless network is an encrypted, secure network. We have to do this or anybody in the city could use our wireless signal to get on the Internet. Temple University's Computer Services Department does not allow us to create any codes to allow members of the public to access the wireless network because it is a computer security risk. We do not think this is unreasonable, and you are able to use the designated computers when you are here.

It is unreasonable for a public university to refuse local tax payer to use their library: This is incorrect. Not only are the Temple University Libraries open to the local tax paying public, but we are open to the entire world. We allow anyone from anywhere to use our Libraries. As long as any member of the public abides by our library use policies, they will never be refused access to our Library.

So we welcome you to use our library and its resources - and you can certainly access the Internet here even if you are not a student - but we are unfortunately unable to allow members of the public to access the Internet via our wireless network using a laptop computer.

The answer is no and yes. Here's an explanation. It is the mission of Temple University to serve the community. Since the Library supports the mission of the University, we serve the community as part of our mission as well. To do this we allow members of the public to use our Libraries, although those who do not have a Temple ID must show photo identification to enter the building and must sign in with the door guard. Also, because the Library is a government document depository, we are also required to be open to the general public.

However, the computers in all the Temple Libraries are not generally available to the public. You may have noticed that virtually all of our computers require a Temple network account to access anything more than the Library online catalog. But given our mission to serve the public we do make available a limited number of computers for members of the general public. For fall 2009 the public use computers will be located in Tuttleman opposite the Circulation Desk. To use a computer a member of the public (no currently valid Temple ID) must register in advance at the Circulation Desk, and if approved will receive a unique code to logon to the designated public use computers.

So the anwer is yes, but in a rather limited capacity. We believe there are sufficient computers in the Libraries - along with laptops that can be borrowed from the Circulation Desk - to accommodate Temple University students. But let us know if you think we need to be doing a better job with our computers.

I think there should be computers for people that only need to print. There should be a max time limit that someone can be on the computer allowing them enough time to log on and get any documents they need from online or the backpack tool. I just know a lot of people that have to go to school a lot earlier in order to make sure they have enough time to stand around for an hour so they can print.

Having individual computers for those who just want to do some quick printing would offer some potential benefits for those in a rush. However, your print job would still go into the regular queue and you would have to wait your turn to print the job. The challenge is that there is a significant demand for computers at Paley Library, and it could be a questionable use of resources to set aside a computer just for those who want to print a document. Also, once on  the computer we would not have any control over how many documents the person prints, which might be time consuming. Nor do we police the computers or put time control software on them. So again, we would not prevent someone from still taking their time on our computers. But I will share the idea with others and perhaps we can come up with some potential solutions to your problem, which is really about waiting too long just to print a document when you are in a hurry. For example, additional printers on upper levels could better level printing jobs so they don't all go to just the two printers in the computer commons. We will also consult with Computer Services about the costs and feasibilty of setting this up since they have control over campus computer printing services.  

Thank you for your suggestion. It is a problem for which we will explore some potential solutions.

Often when I need a terminal at the library to do research, they are all being used by people on non-research websites (AKA Facebook, Myspace, etc). Is there a way to limit the ability of library computers to access non-research websites, so students who need to legitimately use the computers can have access to library resources?

Thanks for sharing your concerns and frustrations about finding a computer in our Libraries. Part of our role as is to provide a good space and the resources for study and research. But the Library is also a meeting space, a social space, a place to find some respite from a hectic schedule, an academic support service, and even sometimes a place to find entertainment - on a computer. To support so many diverse needs we offer a large number of computers with unrestricted access so students and others can check their email, write a paper, update their facebook status, do research on a library database or watch a soccer video.

That's why we do not impose limits on what students and others can do on our Library computers. Yes, there are students using the computers for chat, to play games or other forms of what you might call "goofing off". But no one can always tell what a person is doing just from what's on the screen. The student on facebook may be communicating with classmates about an assignment. The student watching a television program or part of a movie on YouTube may be doing so for legitimate class work. Everyone in our Libraries is entitled to their time on the university equipment.

That said, facilitating research is clearly one of our core missions. If you are in Paley Library and there are no computers available and you see what looks like non-research activity going on, please proceed to the "Ask Here" Desk on the first floor. Those working at the "Ask Here" Desk often ask students if they will kindly give up their computer to someone who needs to conduct research. We find that students are likely to comply with that request.

Finally, please be sure to look for an open computer on the upper levels of Paley where we have added additional equipment or consider borrowing a laptop at the Tuttleman Circulation Desk.