Site maintenance
by Trollworks,
a division of
No Loaf Inc.
Library information assistance provided
by Library Director
Ceil Cunningham

The Macsherry Library Computer Room

	Work done by the staff and Board of the library, and grants received from the Sweetgrass Foundation and the NNY Community Foundation in 2004, made 2005 the year when there was no longer any need to replace antiquated public usage computers, the last two new computers going into service just as 2005 began. That brought the total number of public access computers to seven, five of which are just over a year old. Since then work shifted to improving the network they share, and creating better network connection availability to visiting laptop users. The library’s DSL internet connection has been improved, the connect speed doubled, and new network switching equipment has been installed. All this work has paid off, with public use of library computers increasing yet again. Several of the computers were outfitted with new headphones.
The left side of the computer room.
The right side of the computer room.

Currently the computer room offers
seven computers for public use: five fairly
new Dells running Windows XP, and
two Gates Foundation computers
running Windows 2000.
The Dells have the advantage of
front-mounted USB ports, which
combined with XP, allow the use
of flash drives and easy connection
to most newer digital cameras. They
also have CD burners, for putting
downloaded pictures on removable media.
CDs are available for sale at the front desk.

As always, the library will continue trying to provide services requested by
library patrons.  Winter is time for computer classes, and once again the library
plans to offer classes in digital photography and image preparation, beginning
computing, and general computer problem-solving.
Classes in web page preparation and other topics are also being considered.

A computer use donation jar has begun bringing in  money that will be used to
make the computer room an even more valuable public resource. The purchase
of a new flatbed scanner is being discussed, along with other task-specific
software that patrons have expressed an interest in having available.

One recent publication mistakenly referred to the computer room
as an 'Internet Cafe'. This might suggest that food and drink are
allowed in the computer room, but they are not.
Users must sign in to use the library's computer resources, and agree
to the library's computer usage policies. In times of high demand for
computers time may be limited to one half hour. There are also policies
regarding the visiting of inappropriate sites, the downloading of music,
and behavior in the computer room. Cell phones usage is forbidden in the
computer room, and the library as a whole.