Any library computer experts?

[MaineDem]

I'm a volunteer at our local library. We have some computers given to us by the Bill and Melanie Gates Foundation. We use a link to the Maine STate Library a lot and I was trying to mark it as a Favorite. It wouldn't stay. Every time we close the browser the Favorites/Bookmarks go away. I also couldn't add a Shortcut to the Desktop.

Does anyone know if this is something the Foundation programs in so patrons can't add things to the Library's computers? Anyone know how we can set these up to retain the Favorites?

I'm always delighted to find DUers who know most everything there is about everything. I love it! I hope someone knows how to help a poor, small library out now.

Thank you all.

[2Design]

1. the site is probably set up as FRAMES...and therefore doesn't

book mark right.

[NoEvilTony]

2. They are set up that way...

Hi MaineDem,

I work for a library district in eastern Washington and we have a bunch of computers provided to us from the Gates Foundation. They are set up with Windows policies to not allow any customization of the software, even bookmarks. They are also set up with a product called Centurian Guard to reload a "gold standard" image every time the computer is rebooted. This was done to cut down on administrative time that the IT department (if the library is lucky enough to have one) would have to spend "cleaning" up after patrons who may use the computers with malicious intent.

:) Hope that helps.

[XanaDUer]

3. Ex-librarian here

They are set up that way to discourage patrons (or "customers" as admin wants us to call them since we now want to run pub libs like businesses) from adding personal stuff to public computers.

Not sure how to get around that. I think it was part of the agreement with the Gates' Foundation to not allow that. It has been some years since I worked with them.

If I think of anything, I will PM you. Could you contact the Foundation?

[NewHampshireDem]

4. Two options ...

You could set your homepage to that site ... if your machines won't let you do that by using the IE Options, you can write it directly to the registry. Here are the details:

http://v2.tlab404.com/articles/detail.asp?iFaq=200&iType=18

Or, alternately, if you have your machines set to your own site as the homepage, the simplest thing to do would be to add a link off of your homepage to the needed site(s).

[MaineDem]

5. You people are marvelous

Thank you very much.

I hadn't thought about setting up a Home Page. I'll do that this week.

Thanks so much!