Startup Idea: Development of Public Computer Lab Suspension System
I work at the Mount Vernon Public LIbrary as a computer lab monitor (electronic resources department). The current system architecture is called Envisionware. The majority of library patrons use the computers properly. There are perhaps about a dozen adolescents who abuse the computers in various ways. Some use more than allocated hours (three hours a day) by using more than one library card. At times the library card was stolen or acquired in malicious ways. Many use the computers to play video games. Many of them make too much noise, drink or eat by the terminals, or break other rules. Currently the library staff is contemplating wild quick fixes to the problem. The staff is considering limiting computer time to an hour (rather than three hours). The staff also considered creating another computer lab (adding a dozen computers to the library). I believe these ideas to be terrible. These proposed solutions will not solve the abuse issue, plus will create a whole new host of problems. I believe the best solution is to create a ‘suspension system’ in which patrons who abuse the system will have their account suspended. The suspensions can vary from 24 hours to a month or so. The system can also track users by time on the computer, number of suspensions, and time of visits. To reiterate, I would like to see a system that stops the abuse of public computer labs. This system should punish those who abuse public computer labs while not hindering the activities of patrons who follow the rules. Note, this suspension system must be ironclad. If implemented those who abuse the system will try hard to bypass new security measures. I have suggested new changes to the library staff but no one listens to me because I have no seniority.
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