Pharos Staff Guide. Part 1: Using a Computer

Transcription

1 Pharos Staff Guide Part 1: Using a Computer Those wishing to use a computer running Pharos must provide their MORE library card number and date of birth. Libraries determine local practices for visitors wishing to use computers. Patrons may use computers not currently in use for the number of minutes displayed on the screen. 1. If the library takes registrations, patrons are not guaranteed a full session. 2. If the library does not take reservations, patrons may use unoccupied computers for minutes. If no one is waiting, extended time begins and lasts up to minutes. 3. Bypass the screen displaying the computer s availability by pressing Enter or clicking the button labeled Click here to logon. 4. If the library displays an Internet Use Policy, patrons must agree to abide by the policy before continuing. 5. On the subsequent screen, key in the library card number in the first field and the corresponding birth date in the field below (in mm-dd-yyyy format). Select OK. If all computers are in use, patrons may use the sign-in terminal and become part of the queue. Note: the steps described below apply to libraries not taking reservations. 1. On the Pharos sign-in screen, key in the library card number in the first field and the corresponding birth date in the field below (in mm-dd-yyyy format). Select Logon. 2. A ticket will appear displaying the anticipated wait for an available computer. 3. The patron s Pharos-generated alias will appear in the queue on the adjacent monitor. Alias format: [first two letters of last name][first letter of first name][a string of library barcode numbers]. See A. B A 1

2 Part 1: Using a Computer (continued) 4. When a computer is available, the patron alias will appear along with the assigned computer station. See B. a. Patrons must use their assigned computer. b. The assigned computer will remain reserved for the first patron in the queue for 5 minutes before being reserved for the next. 5. At the assigned computer, bypass the screen displaying the notice that the computer is reserved by pressing Enter or clicking the button labeled Click here to logon. 6. If the library displays an Internet Use Policy, patrons must agree to abide by the policy before continuing. 7. The library card number is entered in the first field and the corresponding birth date in the field below (in mm-dd-yyyy format). Select OK. After logging in, the familiar desktop appears. Users may hover over the Pharos icon in the lower right portion of the screen to view the elapsed and remaining length of their session. Users may log out at any time to end their session, and may log in a maximum of - times per day. To log off: o Hold down the Ctrl, Alt, and Delete keys. Select Log Off from the subsequent window. o Access the Start menu. Select Log Off (this may look slightly different among computers) Users are warned 10 minutes and 2 minutes before their sessions end. o If no other users are waiting, extended time begins. o If other users are waiting, the patron is automatically logged off at the end of the session. The patron may then join the queue to use their remaining minutes (from total minutes allowed per day). 2

3 Part 2: Helping Patrons Use Pharos Computers Know your local rules. These will apply to anyone using your computers. How long is a standard session? How long can that session be extended to if no one is in the queue? How many minutes can a person use a computer in a day? How many times can a person use a computer in a day? Do a person's fines have to be below a certain amount to use a computer? What is that amount? What 'mblocks' preclude a person from using a computer? Is there a filtcode that the patron needs to have (such as 1 or 2) or cannot have (such as c) to use the computer? Do the computers reboot when the patron logs off? Are the computers shut down at the end of the day? Do patrons have to accept your Internet Usage policy each time they log in? Login Problems: Make note of your local practices regarding visitors wishing to use your computers and MORE cardholders who do not have their card number at hand: The patron s library account must have the appropriate local permissions to log on (see above). The error messages appearing after a failed Pharos login are helpful in diagnosing the login problem. Changes made in Millennium will be recognized almost instantaneously by the Pharos system. Patrons must enter their birth date in the prescribed format: for March 26th of 52. Number lock ( Num Lock ) must be on to enable use of the 10-key pad on the right side of the keyboard. 3

4 Part 2: Helping Patrons Use Pharos Computers (continued) Logout Problems: If a user does not log out to end their session, another user could begin using the computer without personally logging in. o The second patron has used the allotted time of the first user. o Emphasize that each patron should log in individually. o Encourage patrons to take responsibility for their sessions. Remind them to log off to avoid giving away their daily allotted computer time, and to avoid being wrongfully implicated should a subsequent patron misuse the system. Know your library s disk protection parameters. Will the computer restart at the end of each session? Will any computer activity be accessible to subsequent users? Session Problems: Know your library s maximum session lengths: o When no one is waiting: Regular session Maximum extended time o Total daily allotment o When others are waiting When using extended time, users will see a 2 minute warning when another user joins the queue and is assigned to use that computer. If your library takes reservations for computers, other users sessions may be affected. Be sure you understand how sessions prior to a reserved session work. After 5 minutes of no keyboard or mouse activity, the computer will log off. A warning appears prior to log-off. Those leaving computers should be notified of this. Queue Problems: The two monitors at the sign-in station each display a website: one for joining the queue and one displaying the queue. o Use the F11 key to toggle between full-screen mode (to be used by patrons) and menu display. o Patrons should only join the queue if no computers are currently available. Those joining the queue will be automatically assigned a particular computer station. At libraries taking reservations, patrons will have to choose their session time. Be sure you understand how a patron can reserve the next available computer, as well as schedule a future session. 4

5 Part 2: Helping Patrons Use Pharos Computers (continued) Queue Problems (continued): After joining the queue, patrons should watch for their turn and their assigned computer. o Because current users are free to end their sessions before their maximum allotted time is up, a user in the queue should watch for their computer assignment rather than relying on the estimated wait time displayed at sign-up. The estimated wait time is based on the average session length at your site, and is only an approximation. o The assigned computer will display a message indicating its reserved status. o Patrons will have 5 minutes to claim their assigned computer and log in. 5

6 Part 3: Staff Controls and Troubleshooting Become familiar with the Pharos Nerve Center o Username: o Password: o Select your Branch (community name) o From the Nerve Center, you can: View the status of each computer in your branch. Disable a computer, making it unavailable for use Make a reservation (if enabled at your library) Send a user a message that will appear on their computer Extend a user s session When attempting to Modify Duration or Send Message to Patron from the Nerve Center for the first time via Internet Explorer, you may see the following: Add the site to your Trusted Sites to allow scripted windows : o Double-click the Internet icon at the bottom right of the screen o Select Trusted sites and click the Sites button o Select Add next to the page url, uncheck the box next to Require server verification ( and Close. o This setting will remain in effect for future sessions. 6

7 Part 3: Staff Controls and Troubleshooting (continued) Ctrl + Enter at the patron login screen bypasses the Pharos login and prompts you to enter a Windows login. The session is not timed. If a public-access computer displays the wrong time, shut it down and restart. The Pharos time display should reset to the correct time. When the Nerve Center shows that one or more computers are faulty, those computers are not being reached via the network. Shut down and restart those computers so that they reconnect to the network. Please contact one of the following staff members with any further questions: o Gus Falkenberg: or ext. 13 o Lori Roholt: or ext. 23 o If both Gus and Lori are unavailable, contact Jamie Nelson: or ext. 15 7