Dalton-Whitfield
County Library

Hour Computers
Library patrons with a library card in-hand are allowed to use Hour Computers for hour each day. The computer reservation software requires a unique library card number for each session. No patron is allowed to present more than one library card for computer use in a given day nor is any card allowed to be reused in a given day. If there is no one waiting, the reservation software will allow a patron to extend their session by 15 minutes. If a patron requires additional time the library staff member in charge of the lab may extend the patrons time for up to an additional 45 minutes depending on patrons need for the extension. Valid uses for a time extension include, but are not limited to, resume preparation, on-line examinations, job applications, or school projects. Extra time in these instances is granted in no more than 15 minute increments provided that there are no patrons waiting for a computer. This extension is solely at the discretion of the staff member supervising the computer lab. Under no circumstances will a patron receive more that 2 hours total computer time on an Hour Computer without the permission of the Director or his designated employee.

Half of all Hour Computers are designated as Children's Computers. These computers are available to any patron regardless of age before 2:00pm on days when school is in session. Children receive priority on these computers after 2:00pm, all day Saturday, or other days when school is not in session. Parents or guardians who are accompanying their children are allowed to use a children's computer.

Express Computers
Library patrons without a library card in-hand are allowed to use Express Computers for one 15 minute session each day. If there is no one waiting, the reservation software will allow a time extension of 15 minutes. If a patron requires additional time the library staff member in charge of the lab may extend the patrons time for up to an additional ten minutes depending on patrons need for the extension. Valid uses for a time extension include, but are not limited to, resume preparation, on-line examinations, job applications, or school projects. Extra time in these instances is granted in no more than 15 minute increments provided that there are no patrons waiting for a computer. This extension is solely at the discretion of the staff member supervising the computer lab. Under no circumstances will a patron receive more that 45 minutes total computer time on an Express Computer without the permission of the Director or his designated employee.

ESL/Genealogy Computers
ESL/Genealogy Computers are provided as standalone computers for patrons wishing to learn English as a Second Language or those conducting Genealogy research with CD Databases. These computers are not connected to the Internet and may only be used for ESL or Genealogy purposes. These computers are available for 120 minutes. No library card is required to use these computers, but the patron must make a reservation and obtain the necessary materials for their use from the staff member supervising the lab. The reservation software allows unlimited renewals in 15 minute intervals, provided there is no one waiting for the computers.

Catalog Computers
Catalog Computers are provided for searching library holdings. These computers can be used without a reservation. They are limited to accessing the library web-based catalog. Patrons are not allowed to use these computers for any purpose other than searching for library materials.Catalog Computers are located in the main library.

Printing
The library provides two types of printers. Black and white laser printing is available at the cost of $0.15 cents per page. When a patron prints something from the computer, the reservation software calculates the cost of the print job based on the printer being used and asks the patron to confirm the cost of the print job before it is submitted for printing. Patrons must pay for their printing before the staff member supervising the lab will release the print job. All pages must be paid for even if the patron only wants part of a print job. Unfortunately, the staff member supervising the lab is unable to preview print jobs or answer questions concerning the contents of a print job awaiting release. All print jobs must be picked up within two hours of submission. Any print job older than two hours is automatically deleted by the software.

Future Reservations
The library can make future reservations for the use of Hour Computers. Reservations require the patron to know their library card number when placing the reservation by phone, or to present their library card when making reservations in person. After making a phone reservation the patron must present their library card when they come to the computer lab. The library reserves the right to cancel any phone reservation if the patron fails to present a library card. Future reservations may be made no more than 24 hours in advance.