We did a very similar thing in Westminster for a couple of years, when we
had rather fewer computers than we have now. The problem in Westminster was
much more acute than would be the case in Medway, with a huge daily influx
of transient customers all anxious to access e-mail. We did have complaints,
but I don't think charging for e-mail services is likely to raise legal
problems - Internet cafes all round the world are doing it!
The biggest problems will be policing it. Your staff will quickly get sick
of having to turf people off, and it does lead to negative feelings about
the service. If you need to prohibit email, I would advise you investigate
methods of blocking email sites.
Michael Lightowlers
Information Development Librarian
Westminster Libraries and Archives
-----Original Message-----
From: leech, helen <[log in to unmask]>
To: 'lis-pub-libs' <[log in to unmask]>
Date: 08 May 2000 09:22
Subject: Charging for Internet
>This is a new twist on one of the standard questions: here in Medway we
are
>starting to offer access to the Internet free of charge in our libraries,
>but people are not allowed to use email. We have one machine available in
>Chatham library for email use (Hotmail), and we charge 1 pound for quarter
>of an hour for using it. This is the only machine available for email -
>people going to Gillingham or wherever are redirected to Chatham if they
>want to use email. If a member of staff sees a member of the public using
>an Internet machine for email they're asked to stop and redirected to the
>email terminal.
>
>We've had one complaint from somebody who feels it's unreasonable (and
>possibly illegal) for us to charge when Hotmail is a free service, and when
>we offer access to the rest of the Internet free.
>
>Is anybody else doing something similar, and have they encountered similar
>complaints?
>
>Thanks in advance
>*********************
>Helen Leech,
>Public & Community Information Manager,
>Medway Council.
>17-19 Military Road, Chatham, ME4 4JG
>Tel: (01634) 332620
>Fax: (01634) 403597
>E-mail: [log in to unmask]
>
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
|