November 25, 2014

Question

Susan Mark (WY)

I feel like I should know the answer to this...

I thought there was something in the internet computers definition that excluded OPACs, but I'm not seeing it:

http://plsc.pbworks.com/w/page/7422583/650%20Number%20of%20Internet%20Computers%20Used%20by%20General%20Public

A library just called -- their OPACs are designated as such, and people tend to respect that, but it would take very little effort to go to the general internet -- just click in the URL bar and type. 

Are these internet computers or no? My first instinct was to say no, but that was when I thought the definition excluded OPACs specifically.

SDC Comments

Michael Golrick (LA)

I also thought it was more clearly defined. Here is a link to the current definition on the wiki:

http://plsc.pbworks.com/w/page/7422583/650%20Number%20of%20Internet%20Computers%20Used%20by%20General%20Public

If you take out the subordinate clause, it just says: “…library's Internet computers [personal computers (PCs) and laptops], … used by the general public in the library.”

I do not count (well, ask my libraries to not count) those computers which are dedicated to the catalog. Most are pretty well locked down (with no address bar to mess with).

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

Scott Dermont (IA)

I agree with Michael’s interpretation of this. I usually ask them what the terminal is used for. IF it is a single use OPAC, which most are, then I tell them not to count them. If the intent is for the workstation to be more general use, then I let them count it. But normally OPACs are set aside for a single use. I’m sure this will be changing more and more with the introduction of tablets. Maybe we need to give this data element some serious thought in the near future.

651 Number of Uses (Sessions) of Public Internet Computers Per Year mentions OPAC – Kim