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SESSION TIME LIMIT RETAINED
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Dear Baltimore County Public Library Internet Account Holder:

The Baltimore County Public Library has been offering Internet accounts 
to the public for over a year now.  In that time we have tried to keep 
pace with the incredible demands that this new service has generated.  
When the library set the rate of $75.00 per year for Baltimore County 
residents it was with the hope that this low price implied the stripped 
down nature of our product.  Account holders patiently waited while we 
built a Help Desk and installed rack after rack of modems and phone lines 
to respond the growing pool of account holders.
 
The library's initial Help Desk consisted of a phone number which allowed 
access to a series of recorded help messages and the ability to leave a 
recorded inquiry.  It also allowed for e-mail inquiries to the BCPL Help 
Desk.  Unfortunately the staff at BCPL was pretty quickly overwhelmed 
with inquiries of both types.  To respond to this situation the library 
has hired staff and now offers live Help Desk support on Mondays through 
Fridays from 9:00 AM until 5:00 PM.  Callers may still receive recordings 
but only if Help Desk staff are on another line. 

The library initially provided dial-up access via 32 modems.  That number
has grown to 158 modems.  This increase has been in direct response to the
increasing number of busy signals resulting from competition for available
lines.  This situation has been compounded by the habit of some users of
logging on when a modem is available and leaving the connection up all day
rather than trying to dial in only when service was needed.  To help
remedy the situation the Library imposed trial time limits, restricting
the amount of time that a user can maintain a continuous session. 

It has become increasingly apparent that in order to provide reasonable
access to our services it is necessary to continue restricting session
time limits.  Despite early hopes to the contrary the library needs to
make this restriction permanent.  Effectively immediately each session
will be limited to three hours, after which the session will be automatically
terminated.  You may dial back in immediately.  THERE ARE STILL NO MONTHLY 
LIMITS OR TIME CHARGES!

In acknowledgement of the inconvenience that this new restriction will
place on users the library will be extending all current internet accounts
by 2 months. 

The "Acceptable Uses and Conditions Policy" that each account holder signs
states the following condition:  "The regulations governing and services
offered by BCPL's Internet Accounts are subject to revision at any time. 
I will be notified of these changes and will be required to abide by
them."  This System News message serves as your notification of these
changes. 

If you have any questions or feedback about these changes please send
e-mail to the Help Desk at oz@mail.bpcl.lib.md.us.  Thank you in advance
for your understanding.  The Baltimore County Library is committed to
making its access to the internet the best value in town! 

Sincerely,

Michael Stevens
Coordinator, Automation Support
Baltimore County Public Library