2008.june

The area behind the McKeldin Information Desk is not a public area.
Use of the equipment behind that desk is by expressed permission of staff
currently on duty at the desk; it is not in the spirit of our service
philosophy to deny users permission to use those resources when service
goals are best met by using that equipment.

The following activities have first claim to those computer resources:
reference consultation with a librarian (including walk-in consultation)
and the use of cd-rom from the media cabint or ETIC.

If users are unable to open-up, print, or access files in the Electronic
Research area because of the hardware configuration on those machines,
they may be able to perform those tasks behind the desk since the 
hardware/software configuration is somewhat different.  Some of the
known tasks for which this option works are:  opening up/printing from
Blackboard pages used in coursework, opening up/printing some 
types of email attachments, opening up/printing some versions of
WORD documents.  This is certainly not an exclusive list.  In such
cases, users maybe directed to the WAM lab; however,
in most cases the best service outcome is achieved by allowing the 
user to simply perform the desired task on the computers behind the
desk.  Staff granting such permission MUST explain to the user that
such action is a privilege, set a time limit (recommended time: 10 minutes),
and explain that the user might be "bumped" for any of the first
claim activities. (see paragraph above)

As a courtesy to colleagues, please point out these users, explain
their activities, and report how they are doing on "time" to your
successors on an Info Desk shift change.  If a question arises, let the
user know that we don't have the technical support staff to help perform
activities not directly related to the Libraries databases.  That said,
if there IS a staff member (including student staff) able to quickly
meet the user's need, then it is certainly in the spirit of our service
philosophy to help open up or print a file.  We should NEVER provide any
kind of action that could result in the loss or damage of a user's data.