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There is a special cooperation/relationship between Headquarters of the Iosco-Arenac District Library (IADL) system and the city governments where each branch library is located. This association is worthy of A LOT more information than I will give on this web page. Maybe, I will devote a separate web page later on about this relationship. A very basic, oversimplification would be to say that Headquarters purchases and provides many items and services responsible for books, ebooks, audiobooks, magazines, newspapers, various programs, access to computers, and much more. The city governments provide the housing for the items and they provide the staff who help maintain many of the items/services that are provided by Iosco-Arenac District Library Headquarters.
Having said all of that, this particular web page will provide information about the computers available for the public at each library of the Iosco-Arenac District Library system (IADL).
There is A LOT to write on this web page. The following links will allow you to skip to a part of this LONG web page that may be of more interest to you.
PC Reservation Software | Wi-Fi | Sign In Procedure for Computer | Printing Pages | E-Mail and Possible Issues |
Each of the eight branch libraries within the IADL system has, at least, a couple of computers for patron use. The number of computers varies per branch and the role of each of those computers may be different. I have been a very part-time volunteer for about a year at the East Tawas City Library and I will be using this library for some examples. The East Tawas Library has eight computers. Two of those computers are at standup computer stations. You need to stand to use those two computers. One of these two standup computers is the The Iosco-Arenac District Library Online Public Access Catalog. The other standup computer is for those patrons who can use the computer for fifteen minutes or less. This EXPRESS computer is for quick transactions. Next to these two standup stations are six computers where people can sit and use the computers for up to two-hours a day. Each computer provides the availability to print to a printer at the front desk. Each computer, except the Online Public Access Catalog computer, has a variety of programs such as Microsoft Word and Microsoft Excel. The computers have access to the Internet and the ability to print to a printer. More information about the capabilities of printing is located farther down this web page.
There are advantages and disadvantages of the PC Reservation software that was installed on the East Tawas Library computers around October of 2021. I am not going to distiguish between the advantages and disadvantages, because I believe that you have your own opinions after using the computers after the installation of PC Reservation. Definitely, there are advantages, but, there are disadvantages that you NEED to know if you want to use the computers.
Of what I understand, about half of the libraries within the IADL system have had the PC Reservation program for a number of years. The program is designed to do, at least, two things. As the name suggests, the software reserves the computer for a specific time, such as two-hours. At a time before COVID, there was enough demand in some of the libraries to try to come up with some type of sign up process in order to schedule patrons for using the computers. Headquarters chose PC Reservation software as an answer to the sign up issue. PC Reservation software has another feature that helps patrons print only what they want to print. I know that there were times when I printed from the web that I thought that I was getting only one page, when actually, there were ten pages there. I would tell the computer to print the page, but I would get nine pages that I did not want OR want to pay for. PC Reservation sends any print job to a queue (location) on the staff computer at the front desk. When you are ready to print, you click on the correct print button and then you can go to the front desk and tell the member of the staff that you printed something. The staff will look at the queue and ask you if you want to print all of the pages that PC Reservation has listed, including the price that all the pages will cost. This part of the PC Reservation computer program does a very good job preventing frustration over paying for unwanted pages. I advise patrons to print the pages before ending your session on the computer. What you printed may not have been what you wanted and you will need to edit whatever you have on the computer.
As I have said, about half the branch libraries had PC Reservation before COVID-19 hit and organzations started closing. When organizations started opening up, Headquarters installed PC Reservation in the rest of the libraries of the Iosco-Arenac District Library system.
I will give step-by-step instructions on the sign-up procedures accompanying the PC Reservation program later on within this web page. You need to go through a sign in procedure to use a computer that starts with you typing your library card number OR going to the front desk to receive a guest login ID. Obtaining the guest login ID is very quick.
For now, I will provide some general troubleshooting information. Some of this, YOU REALLY NEED TO KNOW and I will give you some examples of WHY YOU NEED TO KNOW.
If you use your library card number, I have seen it not work on the first try. The library card number is long. Sometimes, when typing, one of the numbers is mistyped. Almost always, if the library card number did not work on the first attempt, the second attempt of typing the number again, WORKED.
Headquarters has programmed the PC Reservation program to "time-out" or log you off after two-hours. At this time, there should be two or three text warnings, with one of those warnings, being some type of audible warning, before your two-hours are up. MY BEST ADVICE IS FOR YOU TO SAVE YOUR WORK, OFTEN. SAVE YOUR WORK, OFTEN. Once the PC Reservation program kicks you off the computer, all of the information that you typed IS GONE. The program does NOT automatically save anything. I have seen some programs automatically save what you are writing at specific timed intervals. With PC Reservation, you are NOT able to count on that. I recommend saving your document to a flash drive, often. Another option is where I have seen some people upload their document to their email account, often.
I have seen or heard of two patrons that spent two-hours typing up some important documents, only, to have the documents disappear when PC Reservation shut down their session. I know that at least one person saw the text message informing him that his time was about up on the computer. However, the patron was not familiar with computers. He just kept typing. The information was GONE. It was NOT a pretty sight. PC Reservation does NOT save the information to the hard drive. In fact, at closing at night, the computers wipe clean anything that may have downloaded to the hard drive.
Here is ANOTHER WARNING. PC Reservation shutting down after two-hours is one thing. Shutting Down after FIFTEEN MINUTES of INactitivy is quite another thing. Did I say SAVE YOUR WORK, OFTEN? Oh yes, I did. Sorry. If a person stops typing for any reason for over 15 minutes, PC Reservation will kick you off the computer. If you go to the bathroom for over 15 minutes, if you talk to a friend while stopping the typing for about 15 minutes, if you leave the computer to help your child find a book, IF for any reason you leave the computer inactive for about FIFTEEN minutes, the computer will log you off the computer. If you did NOT save what you were working on, the document is GONE.
I already mentioned the printing process, briefly. I will cover it a little more later on this web page with some instructions. Basically, when you right-click the mouse or however you get the drop-down menu, click on "Print." PC Reservation software will ask you again for your ID. You can type anything in the box and it will be accepted. The pages will be printed on the printer at the front desk. You can go to the front desk and the staff will ask if what they have listed in the queue sounds like what you want printed. They will tell you the price of the prints and then print the page or pages.
Headquarters of the Iosco-Arenac District Library system received a grant to update the Wi-Fi capabilities at the branch libraries. The Wi-Fi signal at the East Tawas Library is MUCH STRONGER than what it was. It is a very noticeable POSITIVE difference. When the library was closed, there was a time when patrons had to stand outside the library as close to the door that they could get. They had to stand right at the door in order to get a Wi-Fi signal. That has changed. I have to do more testing, but, I know that the Wi-Fi signal now covers most of the parking lot on the east side of the library, from the door to the edge of the parking lot facing the baseball park. I admit, the signal is stronger closer to the library building, but still, the signal reaches farther than it ever did. As expected, the signal is much stronger within the library, also.
You should not need to use a password for accessing the Wi-Fi. If your Wi-Fi is activated on your device, then you should be able to use the Internet. If you do not have an automatic internet connection then you may have to check your "settings." I know that most computers have a subject heading within the "settings" of something like "Network and Internet."
| It is there that you can find the Wi-Fi setting. Look for a symbol/icon such as: | |
You can look for a setting to click or move in order to activate the Wi-Fi. When Wi-Fi is working, then depending on the device, you may see statements such as "You're connected to the Internet," "Show available networks," or better yet "Network Connected IADL_LIBRARY."
If you are not connected to the IADL_LIBRARY network, then look for the other network IADL_LIBRARY-P . A password is needed for the IADL_LIBRARY- P network.
The password is librariesyes (The password is all lower case letters.)
The Iosco-Arenac District Library has two type of Wi-Fi networks. If what I call "the no password needed network" is not working, then you can ask library staff or call Headquarters (989) 362-2651 for help. I know that the names of the networks, including the password for the one network, are on a poster on the outside door at the East Tawas Library for people to see.
Probably, this is a topic that is worthy of having its own long web page someplace else on my website. However, while we are on the subject of Wi-Fi, I might as well as briefly as I can give some advice on the EASIEST way to print from your laptop or smartphone.
The following is my own opinion. Some people may have their own opinions on how to print from their own laptop or smartphone using Wi-Fi. What I am doing here is giving some advice on what I would do if I wanted to print something from my laptop or smartphone.
There are three libraries that have a special copier/scanner/printer that will allow you to send the document over Wi-Fi to the special copier/scanner/printer. Again, it is ONLY MY OPINION, but I will say that the process to get the document printed from your device, through Wi-Fi, to the copier/scanner/printer IS COMPLICATED. There is a list of instructions for a device whether it is an Android or something else. You need to download a special app to get your device to connect to the special copier/scanner/printer. If you are like me, I will offer some advice that may save you some frustration.
1. If you have a laptop, then save whatever you want to print to a flash drive. You can quickly sign on to one of the library desktop computers and then print the document using the library desktop computer. Probably, this is the quickest, less frustrating experience to get what you want printed from a laptop. IF you do not have a flash drive, then please look at option number two which is the option for smartphones.
2. Many people want to print something from their smartphone. What I suggest is to print the document from an email account like GMAIL. If you do not have an online EMAIL account then you can create one. If you already have an email account then you can use your smartphone to make sure that the document that you want to print is sent to your email account. Once the document is at GMAIL, or whatever email service that you are using, then you can use the library desktop computer to print your document by accessing the EMAIL account that is at GMAIL or wherever, online.
ISSUES: I cover this father down this web page under the heading of "E-Mail Software and Issues". However, let me copy some of that information and place it here, also.
I have noticed in the past months that email companies, such as Google's Gmail, have become much more concerned about security.
Many people use the computers within libraries for a variety of reasons and one reason is that they need to either send or print an important document/email.
Based on the amount of frustration that I have seen with the new security measures that email companies have implemented, I am going to give some suggestions.
I will use the example of Google and their email service. Google is able to recognize which computer that you use. They recognize my computer address when I use my own computer. However, when I try to access my gmail account from a different computer, like at a library, then Google asks me for verification that I am who I say that I am logging into my account. By using a different computer, Google thinks that someone, other than me, is trying to access my gmail email. Basically, they will ask me to verify that I am who I say that I am when working on the library computer. They will want to send a "verification code" to me, either to my smartphone OR another device that they are familiar with, like MY own computer that they are use to. The easiest way to receive the verification code for me would be to have the code sent to the smartphone that I would have with me. It takes some minutes for Google to send the code, but when it comes to my smartphone, I can then type THAT verification code within the input box on the screen on the library computer. At that time, Google will recognize that I am who that I say that I am, and allow me to access my gmail on the LIBRARY computer, like what I was doing on my own computer.
That was a very basic generalization of what is going on. When using the library computers, rather than your own, it may be best that you have a knowledge of your username, passwords, and some type of device that you can use to access a verification code that Google may want to send you.
Oh yes, one more thing. All too often, there is no smartphone reception within the East Tawas Library. Consistently, people CAN get cell phone service IF they connect to the Wi-Fi network with their cell phone. Other than that, the smartphones will work outside the East Tawas City Library.
"PC Reservation
Computer Access and Session Control"
Step One: Click on either "Log in as Patron" OR
"Log in as Guest."
Step Two: Type either your library card number OR your guest ID within the empty box next to "Library Card Number:"
Click the "Log In" button after you type in your Library Card Number OR the guest ID.
Step Three: IF you used your library card number, then your library card number needs to be in the box next to "Library Card Number:"
Your PIN number is the last four digits of your telephone number.
IF you used a guest ID, then your guest ID should be seen in the box next to "Library Card Number:"
For this example, the guest ID was G6050.
The PIN box should have asterisks in the box. No need to add anything.
Click on the "Confirm" button, to proceed.
Step Four: You are almost in.
You will see a long white document with black text that appears on most of the screen.
The title at the top of the document is "Public Computer Acceptable Use Policy."
Click on the "Accept" button in the top right corner of the screen, in order to complete the sign in process.
You should see the computer's desktop screen after you click on the "Accept" button.
Step One:
Right-click the mouse to get a drop-down menu. Another option is to click on "File" in the upper
left corner of the screen and look for "Print."
Click on "print" that appears on the menu.
Another drop-down menu will appear.
Click on the "print" button.
Step Two:
Type any letters that you want within the box under "User ID."
You can type your library card number or guest ID, BUT on this
particular screen, anything will do.
Click on the "OK" button.
Step Three:
You should see the total pages to be printed and the cost.
If this is corrent, then click on the "OK" button.
If this is NOT correct, then click on the "Cancel" button and
review what you selected to print.
Step Four: If you clicked the "OK" button, then you should see the message:
"Your job has been received."
This message indicates that your page was sent to the printer queue
at the front desk. There the staff will confirm with you the number of pages
and price of the copies.
I have noticed in the past months that email companies, such as Google's Gmail, have become much more concerned about security.
Many people use the computers within libraries for a variety of reasons and one reason is that they need to either send or print an important document/email.
Based on the amount of frustration that I have seen with the new security measures that email companies have implemented, I am going to give some suggestions.
There is a lot that I could say and maybe I will do that sometime on a separate web page. However for now, I will give some suggestions.
I will use the example of Google and their email service. Google is able to recognize which computer that you use. They recognize my computer address when I use my own computer. However, when I try to access my gmail account from a different computer, like at a library, then Google asks me for verification that I am who I say that I am logging into my account. By using a different computer, Google thinks that someone, other than me, is trying to access my gmail email. Basically, they will ask me to verify that I am who I say that I am when working on the library computer. They will want to send a "verification code" to me, either to my smartphone OR another device that they are familiar with, like MY own computer that they are use to. The easiest way to receive the verification code for me would be to have the code sent to the smartphone that I would have with me. It takes some minutes for Google to send the code, but when it comes to my smartphone, I can then type THAT verification code within the input box on the screen on the library computer. At that time, Google will recognize that I am who that I say that I am, and allow me to access my gmail on the LIBRARY computer, like what I was doing on my own computer.
OFTEN, there is not good cell phone reception IN the library. OFTEN, you need to go outside the library to receive a signal OR use the Wi-Fi connection within the library to use your cell phone.
That was a very basic generalization of what is going on. When using the library computers, rather than your own, it may be best that you have a knowledge of your username, passwords, and some type of device that you can use to access a verification code that Google may want to send you.
The following link will take you to Google's help page for gmail. You may need to make sure that all of your account information with Google is up-to-date. It may be in your best interest to make sure that all of the contact information is correct.
https://support.google.com/accounts/answer/63950?hl=en
When you are done with the computer, you can click on the button/message "End Session" at the lower right corner of the screen.
Another window appears that asks "End Your Session?"
Click on the "End Now" button.
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