Hello Will,

At MSU Billings, we have two computers dedicated for public use. They are automatically logged in to a special "LIBRARY PATRON" profile that our IT has configured in Active Directory. The computers' memory is wiped every 24 hours, which is when they are programmed to auto-restart. Signage on the desks encourages patrons to delete their files and close all programs when their sessions are completed.

One downside is that the computers do not self-enforce time limits. Some of our staff have a mentality that public patrons should not stay on the computers for more than an hour or so, but I personally do not see this as an issue so long as other patrons are not waiting to use the computers. We do have a policy posted about being respectful of other users' time, but our computers are low-usage, so we have never had to enforce this. 

The other downside is that public patrons cannot have their own printing profiles/cards/funds. I  expect there could be a way to do this if you really wanted to, but at MSU Billings, we have a complicated and archaic printing infrastructure, and it was not worth the headache to engineer a public printing option. Instead, we tell public patrons they cannot print, with the exception of government documents/forms, which the front desk prints as a "one-time courtesy."

At this point, the Federal Depository Library program requirements are basically the only reason we still have public computers. At one point, we had far more terminals and public users, but most of our regulars stopped coming during/after the pandemic. I suspect most public patrons are instead bringing their own devices and connecting to the guest wifi, so we have no real way to differentiate them from university students/staff at a glance. That's fine with me-it means staff are less apt to eye public users with suspicion.

Best, 

Nathan Sonnenschein (he/him)
User Services & Experience Librarian
Montana State University Billings Library

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Subject: [CODE4LIB] Guest computers

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All,

I'm curious how you handle access for guests at your libraries.

Here at UND, we've used a process for many years that involves issuing a guest account in the campus Active Directory server through NetIQ Access Manager (NAM), which is supplied by campus IT. But it has a lousy UI and doesn't work reliably. When it does work, it takes about 15 minutes for the account to become active. When it doesn't work - which is more often than not - the account never works at all.  At that point we usually just have a staff member log in and let the patron use their account, which is not great.

We're a depository library for the state and the federal government, so we're required to ensure that the public can access government documents.  Which are, of course, increasingly digital these days.

So we're looking for other ways to manage guest access.  How do you all do it in your libraries?

Will Martin

Head of Digital Initiatives, Systems and Services Chester Fritz Library University of North Dakota he/his/him

701.777.4638