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----------------------------Original message---------------------------- I'm looking for academic library policies on public access Internet terminals in the library. We installed a public access Internet terminal in January of this year. So far "public access" has meant that anyone who comes in our library can sit down and use it for an unlimited amount of time. Patrons can do everything except send or receive e-mail. A few patrons have asked that we set time limits; they're frustrated at their inability to get on. This has increased in recent weeks as some of the students have discovered chat rooms and such and spend a great deal of time online in one session. How do others manage? Do you have sign-up sheets? Time limits? A limit of one hour? Two hours? Can recreational browsers be bumped off? What is recreational versus educational?? (I think I know, but what does one say in a policy?) I might add that this Internet access is provided by only one terminal, and is the only one in the entire university so far. (Ours is a small institution, about 1350 students.) It's also one of the most popular new items we've ever put into place, aside from our online catalog. The type of account we have with our Internet provider includes 100 hours of connect time per month, plus $2.00/hour for every hour over the 100 hours. So far we haven't exceeded our limit, but I expect that we will soon. Thanks very much. Sara J. MacDonald, Reference Librarian Albert M. Greenfield Library, University of the Arts 320 S. Broad St., Philadelphia, PA 19102 USA Voice: (215) 875-1016 Fax: (215) 875-2296 E-mail: [log in to unmask] UArts home page: http://www.libertynet.org/~uarts/