MCTC Library Public/Community User Computer Access Policy As of January 1, 2010, MCTC Library discontinued public access to research computers. With the exception of those designated for catalog access, all library computers currently require a valid MCTC ID and password to log in. There are a number of reasons for this decision, and we tried to take into account the needs of all our community members: students, staff, faculty, administration, and neighbors in making this decision. The reasons are as follows: 1) Higher levels of enrollment have resulted in an increased demand on reference and circulation staff and greater use of library computers, and additional resources to deal with this have not been forthcoming. MCTC has had double-digit increases in enrollment for several years in a row, yet the library has not added any operations staff to keep up with the increased demand. We have been seeing both the in-library computer lab and the research computer area completely filled up, for significant portions of the day, even after we added 8 more PCs to the research area. Our first responsibility is to the students currently enrolled in classes here at MCTC and as such we decided it was necessary to reserve all available computers and staff time for current students. We do welcome all Minnesota residents to our library, and our print resources may be used within the library by all. We have reserved one PC to make the online library catalog available to everyone, with no need to log in. 2) Alternative locations with open computer access are now more widely available than in the past. We had maintained limited public access through the time period of construction of the (downtown) Minneapolis Public Library, Central location. The public library provides computer access to all, and the central location is now open all days of the week. There are also 2 smaller branch locations relatively close by, also providing computer access, Tuesdays through Saturdays. Through the ELM program, the public libraries offer many of the research databases that we offer here at MCTC, and reference services are also available at these locations. 3) While other academic institutions may and do offer computer access to non-affiliated members of the public, usage guidelines vary, as do allowable uses. There is not a uniform guideline or law to determine how much, if any, computer access must be provided to members of the public who are not affiliated with the college or university. Some colleges allow open use of research databases, via the internet, but do not allow use of e-mail or word processing on library computers. The U of MN has open access computers that provide "access to MNCAT (our online catalog), licensed databases, and most World Wide Web sites including federal and state government sites. Blocklists have been installed on open access computers ... to prohibit access to free e-mail, chat and gaming sites. Any patron may use the open access computers without supplying identification. " However, " Only current students, staff and faculty have open access to the full Internet. The authentication and blocking procedures are primarily security measures intended to prevent abuse of the Libraries' computers."
