HIT: GEN: Circulation Desk

["Joyce N. Church" <jochurch@NORWICH.NET>]

Dear LM_NETters,

A hit was requested concerning your opinions about recessed monitors in
circulation desks.  Such an interesting, poles-apart, group of answers from
you wonderful people.

My original query:

Do any of you have a circ desk with the monitor underneath at an angle and
with plexiglass in the countertop to peer through?  Obviously I don't know
what this feature is called.  My question is, if you have this, do you like
it?

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I helped a lady with hers and it was very uncomfortable viewing in my
opinion. Drove me nuts.

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I have not used such a setup as a circ desk, but I did a little work on one
in an office at one school I used to serve.  I did not like it...perhaps
partly because I wear bifocals and having to look down was a big adjustment
when I'm used to looking up.

I do a lot of my circulation from a standing position, and find that having
the monitor up where I can see it easily and the students can see it as
well, is much easier for me.  If you need to save space, get a "tower"
style processor and place it somewhere under the desk, but in easy reach
for putting in those backup disks or tapes...

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this feature is usu. recommended as an ergonomic device to ease the
strain of staring at a monitor all day.  something about hte angle. I
suppose it makes since if you're cramped for space.  OUr monitor is
always swiveling to face the students so they can read the screen if
they're checking out on their own.

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We are planning a new media center.  I, too, have been wondering about
this.  One reason why I am leaning towards NOT doing this is when we have a
student who has overdue materials, he/she invariably leans over the counter
and looks at the screen.  It seems to add credibility to the situation.

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I've seen it at very fancy hotels. By putting the monitor underneath
glass you free up the counter space.  Hotels do it at the concierge desk
so you "feel" like you're sitting across a desk and not a computer
station. It's very understated and elegant.

BUT.......... how would you "wand"  the books? Wouldn't the monitor under
glass get covered by books being circulated? You'd have to sit to use the
computer (I frequently am standing to check in and out - but I guess the
desk could be built for standing)

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just in case you haven't spotted it, this style is in the Gaylord
catalogue.  Frankly, when I looked at it at NECC, I wasn't impressed.  The
glare of the lights was reflected and I had to look at it from a certain
angle.  Maybe they've solved that problem????

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I don't have this at work, but I've seen it at my health club.  A hole is
cut in the counter and the monitor is placed on a lower shelf at an angle.
As one who wears glasses - bifocals - I can see the advantage of it.  The
only problem is what happens when you change monitors and the size/shape
of the monitor is different?

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I don't have this furniture on the circ desk, but do have it in the
computer lab.

The pluses are the room looks neater, less dust around cords, greater work
surface available for students to work.

Minuses -- glare from the ceiling lights requires a "hood" must be used,
keyboard is not always in the most ergodynamic configuration.

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I've never had a desk with the recessed monitor, but would love to.

Cords, etc. should not then be a problem.

The screen is out of sight of the patrons, so patron confidentiality is
more secure.

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I don't have it but the computer lab in my school does and I don't like
it because the monitor is at the wrong distance for me to see with my
bifocals and without them.  I have to lean far forward in order to see
the screen whenever I have to use one of the lab computers.

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Yes I have such a desk and it is wonderful! The computer & monitor are
securly under the counter so I don't have to worry about someone dropping a
stack of books & knocking over the monitor. It provides privacy for
students when we check to see who has what out. And last but not least, it
is great for bifocal users. I spent hours (months, years) inputting MARC
data when we automated & I don't think I could have done it without this
marvelous desk.
        The desk I have was quite expensive, the administrative people
ordered one and were going to have the wood working class make one for each
teacher--however, our Eduquest machines wouldn't fit in the unit. Since I
buy my own computers out of my budget (and therefore buy clones), it would
work for me. It only works for computers that have a separate monitor (the
Eduquest units have a combined monitor/CPU). I don't know if all the desks
are like this or not.

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Yes, I have a desk such as you described.  I love it and will try to adapt
our new computer monitor in it.  We have just gone online with an OPAC
system
and will have get rid of our Follett Circ Plus system.  The kids are
fascinated by this computer also.  It does free the desk for a working
surface rather than trying to move the monitor or work around the monitor.


We purchased the desk for the the K-Log catalog.  They had various types of
similar tables.

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I don't have an answer for you but a comment...I recently had a checkout
desk built and after debating for three years (it took that long to be
approved in the budget:) ) I decided to basicly have an oversized desk
built.  One of the main reasons I choose to do it this way is that in the 8
or 10 years that I have been automated, I have had three different
computers--each a different size and shape.  If I had had the desk built
three years ago for the computer I was using then, I would be very unhappy
the way my present computer would have fit that design.
        Just some food for thought...

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I have my monitor under my desk; there is a glass panel insert in the
middle
of my desk top.  I've had this arrangement for about 4 years now and like
it
very much.  I have poor vision; since I "read" with bottom part of my
bifocals, I can see my monitor with little neck twisting.  However, my
workstation is NOT the circulation desk.
The biggest drawback to this arrangement is that my desktop must be clear
when I catalog, do searches, email, whatever.  I can manage my workload so
that happens.  It might be more difficult to keep this area clear with
circulation.  I don't know where else we could put the 5, 10, 20, or more
titles being checked out....  If all items were tiny books, videos, or
audiocassettes, that wouldn't be so bad.  But in this library, we often
check out big, bulky items.  Let me know if you would want more info.  I
know I truly love the way my monitor is set up.

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I don't have a desk like this at work, but I did have one at home.  What a
neck-breaker!  You constantly have to look down into the monitor by
stretching
your neck out.  My chiropractor convinced me to quit "turkey-necking" and
get
rid of the desk.  Now I have desk where the monitor sits down into the
desk, but
the screen is above desk level--the back of the monitor angles down into
the
desk-- and it is much easier on my neck (which has problems that don't need
provocation to cause discomfort and pain).
     I recommend that you NOT have the monitor placed under the surface of
the
desk for ergonomic reasons.

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We do here and I really like it.  For just quickly checking out materials
it
is perfect.  If you are adding data for long period os time, it is hard as
your head is at an awkward angle.  It is super to have the counter space to
do other things.

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If you can get it built in that would be great.  I just got a new
circ desk a year ago.  Pretty standard.  Went to a workshop at BOCES
a few months ago and they had the screen built in like I think you
are describing.  Really liked it and wish I had known about it.

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We have a very small school in our system that has only a part time
media specialist.  When she is not there, music and PE are held in the
library media center.  For that reason, she wanted her computer
protected.  As a result, she requested just such a unit for her
circulation computer.  I checked with her today on her feelings about
the unit.  She said she likes it very well.  The screen is easier to see
on this particular unit when seated.  Can't remember exactly what you
call such a unit either.


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I'm going to try to see one in person!!!

Joyce N. Church                            jochurch@norwich.net
7-12 Librarian                                 ovcs@norwich.net
Otselic Valley Central School  http://www.norwich.net/~jochurch
South Otselic, NY 13155            http://www.norwich.net/~ovcs