Comments on: Library Public Computer Profile http://www.swissarmylibrarian.net/2008/06/10/library-public-computer-profile/ or, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to Fear and Loathing at a Public Library Reference Desk Thu, 23 May 2013 18:19:13 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5.1 By: Nice Wallpaper For Computers photos | Amazon Best Sales http://www.swissarmylibrarian.net/2008/06/10/library-public-computer-profile/#comment-18676 Nice Wallpaper For Computers photos | Amazon Best Sales Tue, 18 Dec 2012 10:51:36 +0000 http://www.swissarmylibrarian.net/2008/06/10/library-public-computer-profile#comment-18676 [...] Wallpaper for Public Computers Image by herzogbr This is the wallpaper we use for the public computers at my library – read more on my website. [...]

]]> By: Cool Wallpaper For Computer images - RAKADANDA | RAKADANDA http://www.swissarmylibrarian.net/2008/06/10/library-public-computer-profile/#comment-18058 Cool Wallpaper For Computer images - RAKADANDA | RAKADANDA Thu, 08 Nov 2012 23:58:32 +0000 http://www.swissarmylibrarian.net/2008/06/10/library-public-computer-profile#comment-18058 [...] Wallpaper for Public Computers Image by herzogbr This is the wallpaper we use for the public computers at my library – read more on my website. [...]

]]> By: Children using computers. | Microns Tech http://www.swissarmylibrarian.net/2008/06/10/library-public-computer-profile/#comment-17971 Children using computers. | Microns Tech Mon, 05 Nov 2012 23:43:04 +0000 http://www.swissarmylibrarian.net/2008/06/10/library-public-computer-profile#comment-17971 [...] Image by herzogbr This is the wallpaper we use for the public computers at my library – read more on my website. Posted in Photography | Tagged children, Computers, [...]

]]> By: Wallpaper for Public Computers | Car Desktop Walpaper http://www.swissarmylibrarian.net/2008/06/10/library-public-computer-profile/#comment-14027 Wallpaper for Public Computers | Car Desktop Walpaper Sat, 14 Jul 2012 09:41:32 +0000 http://www.swissarmylibrarian.net/2008/06/10/library-public-computer-profile#comment-14027 [...] Wallpaper for Public Computers Image by herzogbr This is the wallpaper we use for the public computers at my library – read more on my website. [...]

]]> By: beat the computer | Pictures http://www.swissarmylibrarian.net/2008/06/10/library-public-computer-profile/#comment-2586 beat the computer | Pictures Wed, 27 Apr 2011 18:12:28 +0000 http://www.swissarmylibrarian.net/2008/06/10/library-public-computer-profile#comment-2586 [...] Wallpaper for Public Computers Image by herzogbr This is the wallpaper we use for the public computers at my library – read more on my website. [...]

]]> By: Swiss Army Librarian » An Anecdotal Experiment With Privacy :: Brian Herzog http://www.swissarmylibrarian.net/2008/06/10/library-public-computer-profile/#comment-2217 Swiss Army Librarian » An Anecdotal Experiment With Privacy :: Brian Herzog Tue, 15 Mar 2011 12:43:28 +0000 http://www.swissarmylibrarian.net/2008/06/10/library-public-computer-profile#comment-2217 [...] the last few years at my library, our public computers all looked the same – Windows XP with a custom wallpaper displaying instructions on how to print. Our setup [...]

]]> By: Upcoming Events Screensaver | Wallpaper places | This domain for sale http://www.swissarmylibrarian.net/2008/06/10/library-public-computer-profile/#comment-552 Upcoming Events Screensaver | Wallpaper places | This domain for sale Wed, 25 Aug 2010 15:21:12 +0000 http://www.swissarmylibrarian.net/2008/06/10/library-public-computer-profile#comment-552 [...] image we’re using on the public computers at my library to promote our events – read more on my website. Share and [...]

]]> By: Brian Herzog http://www.swissarmylibrarian.net/2008/06/10/library-public-computer-profile/#comment-551 Brian Herzog Wed, 22 Jul 2009 02:21:38 +0000 http://www.swissarmylibrarian.net/2008/06/10/library-public-computer-profile#comment-551 @David: it’s funny, but it does seem like we’re going back to terminals/thin clients. In fact, my library’s public computers are 7+ years old, and we’re looking at replacements that the Town’s IT department would remotely administer. Cheaper cash outlay-wise, no doubt, but I’m still skeptical whether or not it’s good for patrons (or just easier for staff).

]]> By: David Smith http://www.swissarmylibrarian.net/2008/06/10/library-public-computer-profile/#comment-550 David Smith Wed, 15 Jul 2009 03:33:36 +0000 http://www.swissarmylibrarian.net/2008/06/10/library-public-computer-profile#comment-550 I enjoyed your information, being the IT Specialist for a major military installation library. But, I really think the answer to many of these issues is to move to the “next generation” platform (which is really a decades-old platform) of thin/smart-clients; Sun Microsystems Sun-Ray system comes to mind. However, this setup can be done much more cheaply, depending on the organization’s required applications. Ideally, there should be at least two application servers hosting all the required applications (one spare server for redundancy/fail-over and the main server). Of course, this scenario would require the initial costly investment in Microsoft client licenses. If the organization opts for a non-Microsoft environment, then Cross-Over Office, Samba Server, etc. could be used. Even if MS-Office is required, Wine has proven effective running MS-Office 2007.

In any case, you have provided several notable and usable concepts for the many IT support staff who face the unique issues of shared/public computers.

]]> By: Brian Herzog http://www.swissarmylibrarian.net/2008/06/10/library-public-computer-profile/#comment-549 Brian Herzog Sat, 04 Apr 2009 06:17:09 +0000 http://www.swissarmylibrarian.net/2008/06/10/library-public-computer-profile#comment-549 @Philip: I agree with you that open source software is very much in line with public access to information – good point, in fact. But many of the patrons using our public computers have a tenuous grasp on technology, at best, and Open Office is just different enough than Microsoft Office that the shock of change would really be a barrier for some people (the switch to Firefox ruffled some feathers, but at least it still had a big green back button arrow).

Moving forward, I’d like to incorporate more OSS into the library, but a decision like that (for us) is based more on the cost of staff time and patron ease-of-use than on software costs.

And thanks for the tip on PrimoPDF – PDFCreator has worked well for us, but I’m always on the lookout for something new.

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