LibraryTechtonics

Recently, a librarian posted a message to the Publib listserv about policies on charging personal items, which included someone trying to charge several items, including a laptop and a personal shaver. It became a problem when someone else needed an outlet for their laptop, so they kindly asked the gent to move one of his items so that the patron needing an outlet could have one. Some ornerness ensued, thus the inquiry on policies to the list.

So far, it’s been an interesting mix. Some people are avidly against charging anything outside of the actual laptop being used, while others are taking The Power of Nice approach (a good one, in my opinion) to the issue and saying that any opportunity to say yes to a user need is a good opportunity. A new set of answers includes power management by the minute charge systems, where people can pay per minute for charging items using something like their print card.

There are several keys to having a policy on this issue, in my mind. First, it needs to be fair and equal across the board, because it’s unreasonable to say, “You Here can plug in your phone because it’s almost out of juice and you have a kid at school, while You Over There can’t because you’re just using it for the Internet connection to your VPN on your laptop, and You Mister certainly can’t just because all you’re doing is waiting for friends to call.” Good signage/explanations for the policies are also key, because you want your staff to present a strong unified front with the same explanations, which just looks better for the library, with fairness in mind.

Lastly, it’s my belief that a library should try to meets needs as a library is able. It would be super for a library to have a “Two outlet per person” (or even a “One outlet”) policy if there’s really an electricity cost crunch for a library, but that way, outlets can be used for free without having a huge laundry list of Can’ts and Don’ts. Alternately, a low-cost charge option might be nice for extra outlets used; heck, you could use it as a Word of Mouth way to get your patrons to lobby for more money for the library.

As that traveler with the hawk eyes for free outlets, I plug in anywhere that isn’t taken, or doesn’t have a sign over it, and I’ll stay there until someone tells me I can’t, or I until I need to leave. It’s important to note that I’m not alone. It’s a mentality of gadget folks, which are a growing potential constituency of libraries, and whose needs should at least be considered. Or decreasing, depending on how much friendlier the local Starbucks or Borders appears to potential users. So if you’re concerned about such things, consider what you can offer, consider saying yes even if it’s within limits that can be explained in a friendly way, and consider having a policy.

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