By using this computer the customer acknowledges that the Library is not responsible for customer files, disks, email accounts or the privacy of online communications. Nor is the Library responsible for viruses, malicious code or any other outcome resulting from customer Internet activity.
Session Management Software
The Library is now using session management software on public internet computers. This software will provide library customers with a more equitable and predictable computing experience. The system is designed to work best with library cards. We encourage all of our customers to obtain and carry a library card. If you do not have a library card, you may request a guest session at the Information Desk.
The library card is only used to validate a session. It is not associated with the activity that results from that session. All library card information is purged at the end of the day.
Use of the computer without the session management software enabled, or attempts to bypass or tamper with the program, is a violation of our Acceptable Use Policy and will result in the loss of computer privileges.
Public PC Configurations
The goal of our Public PC Configuration is to strike a balance between the following components:
- basic retrieval needs of our customers
- diverse learning curves of our customers and staff
- available hardware and network speed
- security & maintenance needs of PGCMLS technical staff
Consequently, customers may not enjoy the flexibility that they are accustomed to when using their home or work place computers. The selection of browser, plugins & security settings for our current configuration results from previous experience, end-user suggestions, pilot projects & recommendations of other public libraries.
Public PC Browsers
We provide both Internet Explorer and Mozilla Firefox. The library does not promise a browser configuration that will meet all customer needs. The security and privacy settings have been left as default. Customers can turn on popup blocking and/or make security and privacy setting changes as they deem necessary. Most of these settings can be found under Tools/Internet Options in Internet Explorer and under Tools/Options in Mozilla Firefox.
The library can not anticipate all of the sites customers may choose to access. We can not provide any but standard browser plugins: Adobe Reader, RealPlayer, Quicktime, Flash, Java, Shockwave and Windows Media Player. The library does not guarantee access to all sites desired by customers. The library is not accountable if customers can’t access work or school sites from computers in our branches.
The Library does not install any special plugins that internet & email providers may require for their applications.
Once a session ends and the computer is restarted, all cookie and caching information from previous sessions is erased.
MS Office
The Library provides MS Office as a courtesy to our customers. The Library Staff is trained in information retrieval, not word processing. Customers are encouraged to consult help keys and books for assistance with word processing.
The library is not responsible for customer documents or for files created or saved. If your files are from an old version of MS Office or another word processing program (eg wordperfect) you can often open them in MS Word by opening Word first, then click file/open and select from the appropriate file type. Any files not copied to or saved on a customer disk will be lost when the session ends and the computer is rebooted.
Sending Pages/Email
Library browsers are not configured with a pop3 or imap e-mail client therefore you can not Select File/Send Page or respond to contact links that expect to open a pop3 or imap client window. Most sites offer options that provide email contact through forms or will send articles to the email account you designate. If you have an internet email account (such as Hotmail or Yahoo) you may be able to send web pages. Check the help files on your internet mail site for assistance.
Public PCs in PGCMLS are not configured to restrict the sending of attachments with email providers such as hotmailor yahoo. It is up to customers to read & follow email provider attachment instructions. Some email providers reject attachments that contain certain extensions or fail virus detection scans. Most will reject files over 10mb.
Public PCs may not contain the programs required to open attachments customers receive from their internet email services. It is the responsibility of the customer to save the attachment to her own floppy diskette or flash drive and to know how to open the attachment on her home or office computer.
PGCMLS does not endorse any of these services nor does it provide technical support for e-mail. If you are concerned about the privacy of your messages, simply close the browser after leaving your mail account. It is not necessary to turn off the computer.
Instant Messaging
Customers will not be able to install Instant Messenger Clients on a public PC. However, Both AOL and Yahoo have web-based messenger programs that do not require any installation. Both Yahoo! Messenger for the Web and Aim Express are made specifically for people using shared computers.
Saving Files, Downloading
Customers must provide a formatted 3 1/2" diskette, USB storage device or read/write Compact Disc. The Library is not responsible for media (floppy diskettes, USB drives, cd-roms, etc) that are, for any reason, not recognized by the computer operating system.
The library cannot provide AC power for external storage devices.
Customers can create or edit existing files and save them to a floppy drive, USB drive or depending on the computer, a writable compact disc. Also, most internet mail services (hotmail, yahoo, etc.) allow files up to 10 as attachments.
Customers should SAVE their files often as they work. For files that you will copy to a compact disc or send as email attachments, make sure you first save them to your own floppy or USB disk. Once the Computer reboots, all customer files left on the computer hard drive will be lost. The Library does not take responsibility for any files that a customer saved inadvertently to the computer hard drive
If the internal Floppy drive is broken, ask staff for a USB floppy drive. It will appear as drive B.
Customers will only be able to open files that can be read by programs already on the public computer. You will not be able to install a program from the CD or USB drive or open files in formats not recognized by the computer.
It is up to the customer to have the software necessary on her home or office computer to open files saved from sessions on PGCMLS computers. If your files are from an old version of MS Office or another word processing program (eg wordperfect) you can often open them in MS Word by opening Word first, then click file open and select from the appropriate file type.
It is up to the customer to understand the extensions that sites may assign to a file. Zamar Free Online File Conversion is a web site that can convert your file from one format to another and then send it to your email. This might come in handy if you create or download a document in the library but need it in a different format for home or office.
Printing
PGCMLS follows an honor system for payment of all printed pages. Customers are responsible for what they print.
Customers are encouraged to use the Print Preview & Page Setup feature of the browser or other program to print selected pages, print the page background and print in landscape mode when necessary.
Some site web pages will not PRINT correctly. Some pages are intentionally designed not to print, while others direct users to select links to particular printable formats. Some sites cut off the right hand column if not printed in landscape mode. PGCMLS can not take responsibility for printing from any WEB sites other than our own (www.pgcmls.info).
Virus Protection
All Public PCs are virus and malware free at the time of deployment. Our Public PCs use a program called DeepFreeze that restores this configuration upon reboot. Customers are encouraged to use a virus protection program on their home or office computer. The library accepts no responsibility for computer viruses or spyware resulting from customer floppy disks or USB devices, or from customer Internet and email activity.
Internet Content Filtering
All internet computing sessions are set to filter the following content: Criminal Skills, Hate Speech, Malicious Sites, Pornography, Spyware, Violence, Profanity and Gruesome Content as defined by the filter provider.
The library is not responsible for the accuracy of the filtering software and this software does not guarantee a safe computing environment for children. The library is not responsible for protecting the customer from content that the customer may deem offensive. Adults, who wish to have the filter removed, may obtain a non-filtered session from the Information Desk.
By using this computer, the customer agrees to abide by the rules and behaviors outlined in the Library's Internet & Acceptable Use Policies available on the Library Policies page of our web site.
Audio, Music CDs & DVDs
Audio is available on most computer models. Those older computers that do not have sound are labeled No audio/No DVD. Volume Control is located on the task bar. You must use headphones. Playing sounds through the external speakers is a violation of the Library Acceptable Use Policy and will result in the loss of computer privileges.
All public computer models can play
Music CDs & DVDs. On most models, headphones plug into the green jack on the front of the unit. The Tangent green jack is on the left side of the monitor. The Gateway E4000 series headphone jack is black, but it is the only jack on the front of the computer. If your optical media requires the installation of additional software to run, you will not be able to use it on our public computers.
- Plug in your headphones.
- Uncheck mute from the volume control (on the right taskbar).
- Insert the Audio CD or DVD
- Once inserted a program should open automatically (usually Windows Media Player). If it does not, go to My Computer and double click on the drive.
If you wish to use a player other than the default (e.g. Realplayer or Itunes), select the player of choice under Start/Programs and browse to the file you wish to open.
Copy Files to a writable CD
The Library provides CD copying software on all models not labeled no Audio/no DVD as a courtesy to our customers. We use the disc copying programs that shipped with the particular model. Customers must follow help keys for the particular copying software. Customers must provide a read/write disc. The library takes no responsibility for the compatibility or condition of customer discs.
You can save music files directly to a compact disc through Windows Media Player, RealPlayer and Itunes. However, you will not be able to save documents or data files directly to the writable CD through MS Word or other Office programs. To save these files to a compact disc, you must use the disc copying software.
Basic Instructions for Copying Files to a CD
Gateway Profile 5 & MPC:
- Insert blank read/write disc
- Go to Start/Programs/Nero Startsmart
- Scroll your mouse to the star *
- Select Make a CD (data or audio)
- From the Nero Express window Click add
- Highlight the files you want to copy
- Click add
- Click Finish when done
- The files you want to copy will appear in the window
- Click Next
- Select a disc name
- Click burn
Tangent:
- Insert read/write disc
- Click Start/Programs/CD Record Now
- Select Audio or Data disk
- Click add files and folders
- Browse to your file location
- Highlight desired files
- Click add
- Click burn
Gateway e4000 & Gateway Profile 4
- Insert read/write disk/
- Click Start/Programs/Easy CD Creator
- Go to File/New CD project.
- Select Data CD or Music CD
- Follow the Easy CD Creator Instructions to add and record files to the CD.
KM,IT,11/2006
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Prince
George's County Memorial Library System
