Pharos Staff Guide
Part 1: Using a Computer

Those wishing to use a computer running Pharos must provide their MORE library card
number and date of birth. Libraries determine local practices for visitors wishing to use
computers.

Patrons may use computers not currently in use for the number of minutes displayed on the
screen.
1. If the library takes registrations, patrons are not guaranteed a full session.
2. If the library does not take reservations, patrons may use unoccupied computers for
________ minutes. If no one is waiting, extended time begins and lasts up to
________ minutes.
3. Bypass the screen displaying the computer‟s availability by pressing „Enter‟ or clicking
the button labeled „Click here to logon‟.
4. If the library displays an Internet Use Policy, patrons must agree to abide by the policy
before continuing.
5. On the subsequent screen, key in the library card number in the first field and the
corresponding birth date in the field below (in mm-dd-yyyy format). Select „OK‟.

If all computers are in use, patrons may use the sign-in terminal and become part of the
queue. Note: the steps described below apply to libraries not taking reservations.
1. On the Pharos sign-in screen, key in the library card number in the first field and the
corresponding birth date in the field below (in mm-dd-yyyy format). Select „Logon.‟
2. A “ticket” will appear displaying the anticipated wait for an available computer.
3. The patron‟s Pharos-generated alias will appear in the queue on the adjacent monitor.
Alias format: „[first two letters of last name][first letter of first name][a string of
library barcode numbers].‟ See A.
B
A
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Part 1: Using a Computer (continued)
4. When a computer is available, the patron alias will appear along with the assigned
computer station. See B.
a. Patrons must use their assigned computer.
b. The assigned computer will remain reserved for the first patron in the queue for 5
minutes before being reserved for the next.
5. At the assigned computer, bypass the screen displaying the notice that the computer is
reserved by pressing „Enter‟ or clicking the button labeled „Click here to logon.‟
6. If the library displays an Internet Use Policy, patrons must agree to abide by the
policy before continuing.
7. The library card number is entered in the first field and the corresponding birth date
in the field below (in mm-dd-yyyy format). Select „OK.‟

After logging in, the familiar desktop appears. Users may hover over the Pharos icon in the
lower right portion of the screen to view the elapsed and remaining length of their session.

Users may log out at any time to end their session, and may log in a maximum of ___________ times per day. To log off:
o Hold down the „Ctrl,‟ „Alt,‟ and „Delete‟ keys. Select „Log Off‟ from the subsequent
window.
o Access the „Start‟ menu. Select „Log Off‟ (this may look slightly different among
computers)

Users are warned 10 minutes and 2 minutes before their sessions‟ end.
o If no other users are waiting, extended time begins.
o If other users are waiting, the patron is automatically logged off at the end of the
session. The patron may then join the queue to use their remaining minutes (from
____________ total minutes allowed per day).
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Part 2: Helping Patrons Use Pharos Computers
Know your local rules. These will apply to anyone using your computers.
 How long is a standard session? _______________
 How long
can that session be extended to if no one is in the queue? _______________
 How many minutes
can a person use a computer in a day? _______________

 How many times
can a person use a computer in a day? _______________

 Do
a person's fines have to be below a certain amount to use a computer? What is that
amount? _______________

 What
'mblocks' preclude a person from using a computer? _______________

 Is
there a filtcode that the patron needs to have (such as 1 or 2) or cannot have (such as
c) to use the computer? _______________

 Do
the computers reboot when the patron logs off? _______________

 Are the
computers shut down at the end of the day? _______________

 Do
patrons have to accept your Internet Usage policy each time they log in?__________
Login Problems:
 Make note of your local practices regarding visitors wishing to use your computers and
MORE cardholders who do not have their card number at hand:
 The patron‟s
library account must have the appropriate local permissions to log on (see
above).

 The error messages
appearing after a failed Pharos login are helpful in diagnosing the
login problem.

 Changes
made in Millennium will be recognized almost instantaneously by the Pharos
system.

must enter their birth date in the prescribed format: „03-26-1952‟ for „March
26th of „52.‟
 Patrons

 Number
lock („Num Lock‟) must be on to enable use of the 10-key pad on the right side
of the keyboard.
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Part 2: Helping Patrons Use Pharos Computers (continued)
Logout Problems:
 If a user does not log out to end their session, another user could begin using the
computer without personally logging in.
o The second patron has used the allotted time of the first user.
o Emphasize that each patron should log in individually.
o Encourage patrons to take responsibility for their sessions. Remind them
to log off to avoid „giving away‟ their daily allotted computer time, and to
avoid being wrongfully implicated should a subsequent patron misuse the
system.
 Know
your library‟s disk protection parameters. Will the computer restart at the end of
each session? _______________ Will any computer activity be accessible to
subsequent users?_______________
Session Problems:
 Know your library‟s maximum session lengths:
o When no one is waiting:
 Regular session __________
 Maximum extended time ____________
o Total daily allotment ___________
o When others are waiting ___________
 When
using extended time, users will see a 2 minute warning when another user joins
the queue and is assigned to use that computer.

 If
your library takes reservations for computers, other users‟ sessions may be affected.
Be sure you understand how sessions prior to a reserved session work.

 After 5
minutes of no keyboard or mouse activity, the computer will log off. A warning
appears prior to log-off. Those leaving computers should be notified of this.
Queue Problems:
 The two monitors at the sign-in station each display a website: one for joining the queue
and one displaying the queue.
o Use the „F11‟ key to toggle between full-screen mode (to be used by patrons) and
menu display.
o Patrons should only join the queue if no computers are currently available. Those
joining the queue will be automatically assigned a particular computer station.
 At
libraries taking reservations, patrons will have to choose their session time. Be sure
you understand how a patron can reserve the next available computer, as well as
schedule a future session. 
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
Part 2: Helping Patrons Use Pharos Computers (continued)
Queue Problems (continued):
 After joining the queue, patrons should watch for their turn and their assigned computer.
o Because current users are free to end their sessions before their maximum allotted
time is up, a user in the queue should watch for their computer assignment rather
than relying on the estimated wait time displayed at sign-up. The estimated wait
time is based on the average session length at your site, and is only an
approximation.
o The assigned computer will display a message indicating its reserved status.
o Patrons will have 5 minutes to claim their assigned computer and log in.
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Part 3: Staff Controls and Troubleshooting
 Become
familiar with the Pharos Nerve Center
o Username: ____________________________
o Password: ___________________________
o Select your „Branch‟ (community name)
o From the Nerve Center, you can:
 View the status of each computer in your “branch.”
 Disable a computer, making it unavailable for use
 Make a reservation (if enabled at your library)
 Send a user a message that will appear on their computer
 Extend a user‟s session
 When
attempting to „Modify Duration‟ or „Send Message to Patron‟ from the Nerve Center for
the first time via Internet Explorer, you may see the following:
Add the site to your „Trusted Sites‟ to allow „scripted windows‟:
o Double-click the „Internet‟ icon at the bottom right of the screen
o Select „Trusted sites‟ and click the „Sites‟ button
o Select „Add‟ next to the page url, uncheck the box next to „Require server verification
(https:)…,‟ and „Close.‟
o This setting will remain in effect for future sessions.
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Part 3: Staff Controls and Troubleshooting (continued)

„Ctrl‟ + „Enter‟ at the patron login screen bypasses the Pharos login and prompts you to enter
a Windows login. The session is not timed.

If a public-access computer displays the wrong time, shut it down and restart. The Pharos
time display should reset to the correct time.

When the Nerve Center shows that one or more computers are „faulty,‟ those computers are
not being reached via the network. Shut down and restart those computers so that they
reconnect to the network.

Please contact one of the following staff members with any further questions:
o Gus Falkenberg: 1-800-321-5427 or 715-839-5082 ext. 13
o Lori Roholt: 1-800-321-5427 or 715-839-5082 ext. 23
o If both Gus and Lori are unavailable, contact Jamie Nelson: 1-800-321-5427 or 715839-5082 ext. 15
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