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Originally Posted by Drince88
Wow! You don't need to get on to the internet to help patrons? I assume the intrAnet will still be up, though, so you can do stuff like interlibrary loans and such? Ok, I just think you'd have to be able to occassionally SHOW a patron how to do the online library stuff.
Be interesting to see if they notice it hampering your ability to do your job, and install a password to the internet sort of system...
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These are VERY good points. We will continue to be networked simply for our catalog to work. They said something like "one computer will continue to have internet access for stock ordering purposes", so I guess that'd be the boss' desk computer.
During tax time the reference librarians are continually using their computers to get onto the IRS' website and download particular forms for patrons. I wouldn't be surprised if they enabled them to do this again when that time comes around.
I have helped lots of patrons with everyday direction questions, because I'm really fast with mapquest/yahoo yellow pages. We do have paper street maps at the desk as well but obviously that's not going to help me find the nearest McDonalds. I don't get requests like that often but they do happen, in the guise of "do you know a place around here that..." Since I don't live up there I've taken to using the net to help them out, especially if I have nothing else to do.
So much for that. And I'm not going to stick my neck out and be a proponent for bringing the 'net back.
BTW, found out what started the scrutiny - a coworker got an email featuring beefcake and was spied on by the Branch Head Librarian, who's nice but as pure as the driven snow. Sigh.