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Frequently Asked Questions
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| What does the Computer Signup System do? | This system lets you reserve time on Internet/Office computers in any of Timberland's 27 buildings and controls the length of sessions on them. It also lets adult patrons (17 and older) designate their own levels of Internet access. |
| Which of the library computers are controlled by the Computer Signup System? | Computers with Internet, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Publisher (Internet/Office PCs). |
| Which of the library computers are not controlled by the Computer Signup System? | Computers with the library catalog and the online reference resources (Catalog/Reference PCs) and computers with children's games. |
| Can the library track what I'm looking at on the Internet because I'm using my library card? | No. When your computer session ends and you log off, the system automatically deletes all temporary Internet files and all cookies from the computer's hard drive. |
| How much time can I get on the Internet/Office computers? | You can have 1 hour of access per day across the library system. You cannot get 1 hour per day per building. |
| Why am I restricted to 1 hour per day? | The Internet/Office computers are very popular. The 1 hour per day time limit makes the resource available to more people. |
| How far in advance can I reserve time on an Internet/Office computer? | You can reserve sessions up to 7 days in advance. |
| Do I need a library card to use Internet/Office computers? | The easiest way to reserve a computer is with a library card. If you do not have a card, ask staff for a one time use card. |
| How long can I use a one time use card? |
A one time use cards gives you up to one hour of
time on an Internet Computer.
You must use the one time use card to reserve a session on the day that it was issued. You can use this type of card to reserve a session up to 7 days in advance, and the card number will work when you login to that session. But the reservation must be created on the day the one time use card was issued. |
| Can I use a one time use card for more than one session? (e.g., a 30 minute session and two 15 minute sessions) | No, the one time use card can only be used for one session. |
| Can I request a specific computer? | No. You must specify the type of computer, such as a 60 minute unfiltered/filtered or a 30 minute filtered only. The system assigns a computer to you based on type and availability. |
| What if I am late for my reservation? | Your computer is held for you for 10 minutes and then becomes available to other patrons. You will lose the time you are late (up to 10 minutes) from your 1 hour allotment for the day. |
| What if I am early for my reservation? | When you log on, you will be given the chance to cancel your original reservation and create a new one that starts immediately. |
| When I logged on, the Internet/Office computer told me I only had a few minutes within which to work. Why dont I have more time? | This means that the computer you logged onto is reserved for another patron in a few minutes, or that you have already used most of your 1 hour of time for the day. |
| If I finish my session early, what should I do? | Display the Library Online window and click on the "Logout" button. To display the Library Online window, select it from the Task Bar at the bottom of the screen or close Internet Explorer by clicking the X in the upper right corner. |
| What if I miss my reservation? | You lose 10 minutes from your 1 hour of Internet time for the day. You can walk up and log onto an available computer for up to 50 minutes or the maximum time available on that computer. |
| What if I logout by mistake and am not really done? |
If you logged in with your library card number and still have time available, you will be able to log
back in with your library barcode number and finish your session.
If you logged in with a one time use card, you will not be able to log back on. Staff may issue you a second one time use card if the Internet/Office computers have enough time available (that is, they are not reserved and staff aren't expecting walk-up users). |
| What if the PC crashes and has to be powered off during my session? |
If you logged in with your library card number and still have time available, you will be able to log
back in with your library barcode number and finish your session.
If you logged in with a one time use card, you will not be able to log back on. Staff may issue you a second one time use card if the Internet/Office computers have enough time available (that is, they are not reserved and staff aren't expecting walk-up users). |
| What if the Web browser closes? How do I start it up again? | Click on the Start button in the bottom left corner of the screen and click on "Internet Explorer". |
| Do I have to reserve a computer in advance? | No. As long as you have time available, you can log on to any Internet/Office computer which is not being used and has not been reserved for someone else. Some libraries have Internet/Office computers which cannot be reserved in advance. You just walk up and log in to use these computers. |
| How can I tell if a computer has been reserved for someone else? | Look at the gray logon box on the computer screen to find the scheduling status. The status is updated every 3 minutes and tells you if the computer is 'Booked' or 'Available'. If the computer is available, it also tells you how much time is available on it. (You may want to look for a different computer if the first one only has 10 minutes available.) |
| Why do I get an "Invalid card number or PIN" message when I try to log on? | You may not have typed the "D" at the beginning of your library barcode, or you may have made a typing mistake, or the library may not have your current telephone number. Try again. If you get this message twice, talk to library staff. |
| Can I have a combination of sessions for my hour, e.g., some on a 15 minute PC and some on a 30 minute PC? | Yes you can as long as you are logging in with your library card. The system keeps track of the time that you are logged on. As long as you have at least 5 minutes of your hour still available, you will be able to logon. You cannot do this if you are using a one time use card. |
| Can I have two sessions in a row on the same PC? | You can have two sessions in a row on 15 minute PCs as long as you still have time available on your library card. You can also do this on 30 minute PCs unless someone else has reserved it, and as long as you still have time available on your library card. |
| If there are computers available and I have already used my hour, can I get more time? | Probably. You will need to talk with staff in the library. Timberland's basic policy is to give people more time when computers are available. However, staff in the individual libraries know when the computers are likely to get busy. If you asked for more time just before an expected "busy" time (such as when school gets out), staff may ask that you wait before extending your time. |
Revised 05/05/08
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Timberland Regional Library serves Grays Harbor, Lewis, Mason, Pacific, and Thurston counties in Western Washington State.