Booking a computer in public libraries in Worcestershire

Welcome to the system for booking a People's Network computer in Worcestershire. The People's Network is the name given to public access computers in public libraries throughout the United Kingdom.

If you have not used the booking system before, please take the time to read this page.  It explains how you can book a computer for yourself without asking a member of staff to do it for you.

To improve the service to you, and to help us manage computer use, we have a booking and management system.  This system allows you to book a computer for yourself in a number of ways:

• ·At home or work over the Internet  (Go to the computer booking page by clicking here)
• ·by using any available computer in any of our libraries.Click here
• ·by asking library staff to do it for you

You must be a library member and have your library card with you to book or to use a computer - please see instructions below. If you have forgotten your card, you may be asked to show some proof of identification.

If you visit a library to use a computer but you have not booked in advance, there may not be a computer free; however, if a computer is free and has not been booked by another person you will be able to use that computer until the next booked session.

When you use the system to book a computer for yourself, you will first be asked to type in your library card number, and then click on “Login” (or press the Return/Enter key on your computer keyboard).  Move your cursor over the choice “Reservations” and you be asked to choose, from a drop-down list, the library at which you want to book a computer.  You will then be able to choose the date for which you want to book a computer, and then the time - either by clicking on a time period on the computer or by typing in the time.  When you confirm the booking by clicking on “Create” (to create the booking) your booking will be made. If you want to cancel the booking you can do so by clicking on the session you have booked and clicking on “Delete” on the screen.

When you have booked a computer, please make a note of the number of the computer ("unit" on the booking system) that you have booked. You will need this to find the computer that is waiting for you.

When you come into the library to use the computer, look for the computer with the number of the one you have booked. When your computer session is about to start it will automatically log out any person using the session before the one you have booked, ready for you to log in.

When prompted, type in your library card number, press Return/Enter or click on Login.  You will then be required to accept the terms and conditions of use by reading them on screen and clicking on the accept button; you must do this every time you use a computer or the system will not allow you to log in.

You must be a member and have your Worcestershire Libraries card with you to book or to use a computer in a Worcestershire public library - if you are not already a member please ask the staff at any Worcestershire public library.  Anyone can join the library to use the computers.  If you also want to borrow books or other items, you will need to show proof of identity and address, but if you only want to use the computers and you do not have proof we can give you a card valid for a few weeks.  If you are a very short-term visitor (for example in the county only for an hour or so) we can give you a card valid for one use.

If you are under 16 you must be a member and also have your parent's consent to use the library computers - if you have not got this already please ask for a form at any Worcestershire public library.

Please note that you can only book up to one week ahead.

You can book sessions up to a total of 2 hours on any one day

When you have booked a computer and it is waiting for you to log in, it will display your name.

A series of help sheets have been produced to help you with some of the common tasks you may wish to do on the computer, such as using digital camera's or mp3 players. Click here to see a list of these helpsheets.

We have now installed colour printers in some of our largest libraries at Malvern, Worcester, Kidderminster, Redditch, Bromsgrove and Evesham. Please ask staff if you are unsure about how to choose colour rather than black and white prints.