Your Aurora Public Library card entitles you to a reserved computer session. If you would just like to search the library catalog, each branch has catalog-only terminals, which do not require a library card or reservation. Please keep in mind that these terminals do not have access to the Web or to Microsoft Office applications.
If you plan to save any work during your computer session, please bring your own USB flash drive or 3.5" floppy disk. Save all work to your disk or flash drive, because when your session ends, the computer automatically erases all new documents, downloads, etc. from the hard drive.
If you see a computer that looks available:
- Move the computer's mouse to disable the screen saver.
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If there is a green Available link in the middle of the screen, click on it. If the link is red and says Locked or Reserved, the computer is in use and you will have to find another.
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After clicking on the Available link, enter your 14-digit library card number in the field provided, then click OK. Do not include spaces in the number.
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A confirmation window will appear, displaying your library card number and session length. (Disregard the number that appears after the '*'.) Click on the Use this Computer button in the upper-right corner.
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The session timer will start and a Computer Use Agreement window will appear. Read the agreement and click Accept to continue.
If all computers are in use:
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Go to a Public Reservation Station and click on the Next Available PC button.
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Enter your 14-digit library card number in the field provided, then click Next. Do not include spaces in the number. If you receive an error message after completing this step, please see a library staff member at a service desk.
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A confirmation window will appear, displaying the computer and start time for your reservation. Disregard the number that appears after the '*'. Click Accept this reservation, and a receipt will print next to the Reservation Station monitor.
- Find the computer assigned to your reservation. If you have trouble locating the computer, ask a staff member right away, as your reservation will be cancelled if you haven't logged in within 5 minutes of the Start Time. If the person previously using the computer has finished his or her session and the green Available link appears on the screen, you can log in (Step 3 in the previous section), even if it is a few minutes before your scheduled reservation start time.
Locking your session
There are certain situations in which you need to leave your computer, but you don't want to quit your session. In these instances, use the Lock feature:
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On the timer bar, click the Lock button.
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Enter a password of your choice in the field provided, confirm the password in the second field, then click OK. This password can be as short as 1 character. You should then see a purple screen with a "Locked" message at the bottom:
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When you return to the computer, move the mouse or hit any key to disable the screensaver, then re-enter the password you created in Step 2. Your session will resume. NOTE: Locking your session does not extend your session time. The timer continues to run while you are away from the computer.
Ending your session
If you're done using the computer and still have time remaining on the session timer, do not leave until you end your session. Ending your session using the following steps ensures that the person using the computer after you cannot access any information you may have viewed or created during your session.
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On the timer bar, click the Done button.
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A confirmation message will appear, asking if you really want to end your session. If you do, click End Now. The computer will automatically log off and restart, ready for the next user to start a session.