Mark #17 05:10 pm Mar 14 2010

Surely making the system require your library card number being entered would be enough to limit useage to locals, If the user does not have a membership include paid kisoks. Where are you coming from?? MARS??? OMG What are you on about?? A supporter of Glenn Baker and his Internet Cafe?? I have only read a portion of the comments on this item but I am horrified at what a short sighted, small minded ,local resident attitude prevails....Restrict.. Restrict.. Restrict..!! Who cares?? [The 'Local Internet Cafe' business community it seems.] Ask Nick Smith MP. who I believe uses [used] this service many times in his lead up to be a local Member of Parliament Whatever use this extends to [except "Terrorism in Nelson" Haha] must be to the betterment of the Nelson/Tasman District and New Zealand as a whole. Bugger the "Library Membership Number" and the like! FAR-NO-Ora for us ALL [including our very accepted and respected visitors]!!

When I was travelling overseas, I found it very helpful to check emails etc at the local library. I see this as part of the services that will leave travellers with a positive regard for Nelson and those emails they are sending are often telling others about what a great place Nelson is, and how they should come and visit. Does the library need more computers? a larger area where people can sit with their own laptops? and believe or not people do read when they are using a computer, it's just that it doesn't involve paper. Some Nelsonians have to be more generous... what you put out, you get back. If the booking system isn't working, then maybe more computers or perhaps the PRO creates a free centre accross the street?

I have actually written to Nick Smith and Ian Littleworth about this previously when I last needed to study for an exam. I have two little girls at home so if I want 'quiet study time' I need to get out of the house. Yesterday I went to the library to get it. It took me 10 minutes to find a seat which wasn't occupied where I could sit and plug in my laptop. I sat for three hours studying with a german couple uploading pictures and breastfeeding a baby on one side of me and a british couple in some sort of dispute over where to stay on the other side. The I made the mistake of taking a break and getting some lunch. When I returned there was no seat anywhere in the library. I was prepared to sit on the floor and lean against the wall if I could find a power point -- but free powerpoints were also clogged by cellphones and other mobile devices being charged. (Sure buddy - our free internet not good enough - help yourself to some free power as well).

In the end I found myself perched on a childs seat in a corner of the childrens Library so I could get some study done.

I would like to say that the service itself was efficient - my laptop connected with a minimum of fuss and the internet speed was comparable to what I get in my own home. But next time I won't be going to the library when I need to study. The service has been exploited by opportunistic travellers.

A few other thoughts:

The german couple I sat next too in the morning were still there when I left just before 5. Who travels to another country to use the internet all day. If you make them pay for that internet perhaps they will use less and get out and experience some of the other activities NZ has to offer.

Can ANYONE give me any reason an Internet Cafe owner in Nelson should pay rates? It's not bad enough to have the council set itself up as your competition, but you have to pay for them to do it too?

I have witnessed this myself. I have taken a free computer only to have a foriegner come along and tell me he had booked this computer. Fortunate for him I was filling in time waiting for a foriegn friend to get off another computer.

Backpackers are spreading the word "go to the libary it's free!" If your a local/ratepayer and have a problem I suggest you be vocal and let the foriegners know what you think until someone gives up their computer ;)

Theres nothing wrong with free internet but locals should have privilege.

As for the price of internet access in hotels in the states, I have found it to be as cheap as chips if not free - and faster than you can imagine in NZ.

I agree with Steveo, limit the internet access to library card holders or people who can provide photo id and a letter with their name and nelson address on it. I've travelled overseas and had to pay for internet access, I don't think it is any cheaper once you convert the currency over. Most hotels in NZ give you some sort of internet or computer access and in so far as "New Zealand is a country of lots of backpackers and we already pay a lot of money for accommodation, tours and food."...umm don't we all have to pay a lot of money for these things when were travelling, if your concern is spending money...stay at home, lots of us kiwis have too!!! Why should we have to provide everthing for free when its not the case overseas. I think most tourist will find NZ is awesome value for money and having to pay $6 to use the internet for a whole hour is dirt cheap! I find most of the time these tourist are doing unnecessary things when they use free internet anyway...at the free internet spots they have in airports you find most of them checking their facebooks, is this really more important than a childs education...some of these tourist sound pretty selfish to me!!

Internet access for all is a wonderful idea and I think the Councils are providing a necessary service for our community.

However, they should not be competing with legitimate businesses.

I often go to the Motueka Public Library and wait for it to open at 9.30am. There are always one or two people with lap-tops waiting with me. They appear to be travellers and obviously know that you have to get in early to get a booking. They choose to visit NZ and spend a mininmum on accommodation travelling in cheap rentals and living out of vans - but they do have laptops showing that internet access is a priority.

This is a legitimate business opportunity and the councils should not be competing.

this is one more issue that we cann't manage properly for those for which the service was intended because we don't have a National ID card; lke all the tourists do. We pay for tourists to visit our museums etc but have no reciprocity in thier country. The big wake up is coming people.

I suggest the library staff and council managers get off their backsides start earning their pay and manage the situation. Set up separate bank of computers for tourists and charge them the downtown internet cafe rates. You have the feed - make it work for you, and stop jacking the ratepayers. Either that or set youselves up as an internet cafe - Christchurch you ahve to load your library card to use the computers. This is a non issue and the people of Nelson deserve better.

randy #5

I'm not sure why you think it worthwhile posting before thinking.

Free and fast broadband may indeed be sweeping the world but it isn't here yet and to pretend it is would be economic suicide.

The article clearly states that the intention of free internet access from libraries is targeted at locals. I don't blame the tourists for jumping on board but clearly something has to be done as the programme is missing its intended function.

The "we pay for everything else" argument is flawed. Where is that line supposed to be drawn? "We're paying for all our transport and accommodation so we will shoplift all our food."? Bottom line is they are freeloading at the locals expense.

As for your reference to luddites, you clearly have no idea what the term means. Luddites shun new technology whereas this article is about managing technology.

The Elma Turner Library is not the only facility being exploited. I have noticed the power points on Bisley Walk regularly being used by tourists to connect their computers, illegal overnight campers using these power points and the toilet facilities. Does the NCC not realise that the price of electricity is due to increase, and that these free facilities are being paid for by the ratepayers? Maybe this explains why the rates are going up 6.3%

Surely making the system require your library card number being entered would be enough to limit useage to locals, If the user does not have a membership include paid kisoks.