PC Reservation Time

We are having some issues with patron’s trying to pull the wool over our eyes and get us to give them more internet time then they are allowed.

Currently we have PC Reservation set up to give the patrons a maximum of 120 min. a day. BUT, the library actually ONLY offers a 30 minute session. Any time above and beyond that is EXTRA and the patron is lucky to get it. And even this is not always true. If the patron comes in right before closing time, there is the possibility they won’t even get 30 min.

Generally the below steps are how the 120 min. are used.
(At 0 session minutes (s.m.)) Patron logs in FIRST time and gets 30 min.
(At 27 s.m. (27 minutes in)) It asks if they want an additional 10 min. They say “yes”.
(At 37 s.m.) It asks if they want another 10 min. They say “yes”.
(At 47 s.m.) It asks if they want another 10 min. They say “yes”.
(At 55 s.m.) It warns them they have 5 min. left.
(At 57 s.m.) It warns them they have 3 min. left.
(At 59 s.m.) It warns them they have 1 minute left.
(At 60 s.m.) It closes them out.
(At 0 s.m.) THEN Patron logs in for SECOND session and gets 30 min.
(At 27 s.m./87 Total) It asks if they want an additional 10 min. They say “yes”.
(At 37 s.m./97 Total) It asks if they want another 10 min. They say “yes”.
(At 47 s.m./107 Total) It asks if they want another 10 min. They say “yes”.
(At 55 s.m./115 Total) It warns them they have 5 min. left.
(At 57 s.m./117 Total) It warns them they have 3 min. left.
(At 59 s.m./119 Total) It warns them they have 1 minute left.
(At 60 s.m./120 Total) It closes them out.

Also know that:
They can log in/out as many times as they want and it will keep an accurate count of how many min. were used during one day.
If the computer freezes and needs to be rebooted at most the patron will loose 1-3 min. of their time (DO NOT tell them this).
If a patron logs in for a 30 minute session and needs to “go out to their car” or “to the bathroom” and they close out after 15 min., they did NOT lose the other 15 min.


Reference staff should only under extreme circumstances extend a patron’s maximum time beyond the 120 min. a day. This may mean staff will have to check PC Reservation History before extending time to see how much total time a patron has used, before actually extending the time. Please ask me if you do not know how to do this.

The same is true of making a reservation for a patron and having to click the “OVERRIDE” button. If this option pops up, there is a reason. It could be they have had their daily time, they owe too much money on their card, they were “bad” and we blocked their card, etc. If staff sees this message, be sure to investigate why you even have to Override, before doing so.