Columbia County Internet Policy
"Asinine - Crazy - Insane"
Columbia County, FL (posted
November 5,
2009)
By Stew Lilker
Empty computer work stations at the Columbia County main
library. The library director's policy is designed to
keep computers unused at all library branches.
"Asinine – Crazy – Insane" are just a few of the
printable words that Columbia County residents and
officials have used to explain the County Library
computer internet policy.
The
sign up procedure that the staff has to go through
to sign someone up for a computer looks like a script
from an Abbot and Costello skit. "Who's on first"? The
last line says it all.
On July 1, 2002, the Board of County Commissioners
gave the library director the authority to establish
time limits for the use of the internet computers at the
County Libraries. This is a common practice in most
libraries and common sense usually prevails. The
ineffectual leadership of library director, Debbie
Paulson, is once again affecting those most unable to
defend themselves.
Due to a gift from the Bill Gates Foundation, the
main library was recently able to expand its internet
computer stations to approximately 17. Except at peak
times, as would be expected, many of the computer
stations are vacant. The other libraries in the system
also received computers from the Gates Foundation.
Yesterday afternoon, November 4th, at about 2:20 pm,
your reporter took Gllynell Presley of the NAACP to the
library reference desk, which also serves as the area
where one signs up for the computers. Over half of the
computer stations were unoccupied at the time of Mr.
Presley's visit. The majority of the computers have one
hour time limits, however there are a few computers
called the "15 minute" computers.
On
the counter of the reference desk is a sign, with a
photo of a little puppy dog, that reads, "Sorry, patrons
are only allowed 2 internet sessions per day!"
Mr. Presley looked around and asked the young lady at
the reference desk how long the sign had been there. She
replied that it had been there as long as she had been
working there. In a brief conversation that followed, it
was established that if anyone of the patrons presently
using the computers had needed additional computer time
the two session rule would apply, even though over half
the computers were unoccupied.
Ms. Paulson, the Library Director, has made a rule
that
works like this. If a patron uses two fifteen minute
computer sessions – they are done for the day. Should
that patron then want to sign up for a vacant hour
computer – they are out of luck. Should that person want
to sign up for a vacant "15 minute" computer – they are
out of luck. In the Columbia County Library world, two
sessions means two sessions, regardless of any unused
computer stations.
This policy is also the standard of the two Columbia
County library branches.
All the internet computers have been donated by the
Bill Gates Foundation. It is not known if Mr. Gates
would approve of such an inane use of his computers.
After your reporter had left the library, Mr. Presley
shared his thoughts. After a brief discussion about
keeping youngsters out of the hood, away from drug areas
and in the "safe haven" of the library, your reporter
asked if he could quote Mr. Presley regarding his
thoughts on Ms. Paulson's internet library policy.
Mr. Presley, obviously distressed about what he had
just seen, said, "You can use this if you clean it up a
little."
It was agreed that Mr. Presley said, "This is
asinine. I'm going over to speak with County Manager,
Dale Williams."
Other members of the community also freely commented
on Ms. Paulson's "two session per day" internet policy.
Barbara Lemley said, "It's crazy – It's insane.
City Councilman Jake Hill told the Observer: "Only in
Columbia County. I don't want these kids on the street.
There should never ever be an empty computer in the
library if somebody needs to use it. If I have time, I
will go speak to the library director and make my
feelings known.
Lance MacDonald's frustration was evident when he
told the Observer: "Who would think of something like
that. Who would be ignorant enough to think of something
like that? Who would approve something like that? There
is no argument of having time limits, but if there are
empty stations -- the most absurd thing I have heard
today. It's almost to the point where I am speechless."
Former educator Rita Hetrick said, "They don't want
the uneducated to get any smarter."
On November 3rd, County Manager Dale Williams told
the Observer, "I'm going to see what I can do about
that."
•
Hopefully, this situation will be taken care of in
"earth" time and not Columbia County time. Stew
Lilker-ed.