NOLS has answers for some common questions regarding Public Computers below. Please review them to see if your question is answered here.

Public Access Computers

Catalog Computers – For access to NOLS Websites and Databases only. The Catalog Computers have no time limits.

Express Computers – For quick access to any Internet resources including NOLS Websites and Databases. No sign up is required and printing is not available. The Express Computers are limited to 15 minute sessions. When the 15 minutes are up the session will end and all data will be cleared.

General Computers – For access to any Internet resources and for using Office software. The General Computers are available for 1 hour sessions. If other Public computers are available at the end of a user’s session the user’s session may be extended for an additional hour, and again at the end of each session as long as no one is waiting to use the computers.

Please Note: There are session time limits to be aware of:

  • Keyboard and Mouse inactivity – Session will end in 5 minutes if there is no keyboard or mouse activity.
  • Locking the computer – Session will end in 30 minutes from the time you lock your computer.
  • If you log into a computer before library closing, you will only receive a session with the minutes remaining before closing.

NOLS does its best but can not guarantee the clean up of sessions after each user. The Public Computers are set up to delete any online or saved data after each user’s session. However, it is best for the user to delete all their files and Internet activity before ending their session.

Please Note: At the same time it is important for users to save their data to some form of removable media and make sure to print all documents before the end of the session. Otherwise all information will be lost!

  • Select “Print” from within the program that you are using
  • NOTE: Using the “Print Preview”  is recommended to ensure that you are not printing more or less than you’d like.
  • After choosing your print options, select “Print” or “OK”.
  • A dialogue box will appear displaying the name of the document you are printing, the number of pages you are printing, the charge amount per page ($0.10) and the total cost to print.
  • Verify that all information is correct, especially the total number of pages.
  • If you are not okay with the charges, select “Do Not Send”. The print will be canceled.
  • If you are okay with the charges, select “Send”. The document will be sent to the Print Station.

  • Enter your barcode/username and password.
  • Uncheck the box next to “Credit Balance” on the left side of the screen. This will allow you to pay for your prints using the change machine to the right of the Print Station.
  • Select the documents you wish to print. You may select multiple documents by holding down the Ctrl key on the keyboard as you select each document.
  • The cost to print all documents selected will display at the bottom of the screen.
  • Insert money into the change machine. The change machine accepts dollar bills.
  • When enough money has been inserted to cover all selected documents, click the “Print” button. The document will print to the printer located to the right of the print station.
  • When you are finished, click “Close”. Any extra money inserted will be dispensed.

  • Select “print” from within the program that you are using.
  • After choosing your print options, select “OK”. Your print request will be sent to the “My Print List” window.
  • To send a document listed in your Print List to the printer, select “My Print List” from the menu bar at the bottom of the screen, and highlight the document you want to print by clicking on its title and then pressing the print button at the bottom of the screen.
  • You can repeat the first two steps to send multiple documents to the Print List before actually sending them to the printer.

  • Select “Lock Screen” from the menu bar at the bottom of the screen.
  • You will be asked for your barcode and password to unlock the computer.
  • If you do not return to the computer after it has been locked for 30 minutes, or if your session time limit has been reached while the computer is locked, your session will end.

  • Select “Exit” from the menu bar at the bottom of the screen.
  • All saved files will be cleared from the computer.
  • If the computer is idle for 5 minutes, you will be logged off automatically.

Software on Public Access Computers

Adobe Reader

Adobe Acrobat Reader software is the free global standard for reliably viewing, printing, and commenting on PDF documents.

Audacity

Audacity is an audio recording and editing application. Audacity allows you to create and work with both single track and multi-track audio projects. It includes a variety of filters for modifying and editing your audio. Headphones are needed.

Google Earth

Google Earth is an atlas and mapping application with various tools for location searches, measurements, street views, and more. Google Earth can be customized to show landmarks, photos of points of interest,  and more.

Google Chrome

Google Chrome browser is an open source program for accessing the World Wide Web and running Web-based applications.

ImgBurn

ImgBurn is a CD/DVD burning application. It can copy CDs/DVDs to image files which can then be burned later. It also can burn discs from image files or from a collection of files or folders.

Inkscape

Inkscape is an open-source vector graphics editor similar to Adobe Illustrator, Corel Draw, Freehand, or Xara X.

Internet Explorer

Internet Explorer is a series of graphical web browsers developed by Microsoft and included in the Microsoft Windows line of operating systems.

K-Lite Codec Pack

The K-Lite Codec Pack is a collection of audio and video codecs for Microsoft Windows that enables an operating system and its software to play various audio and video formats generally not supported by the operating system itself.

Media Player Classic

Media Player Classic (MPC) is a compact media player for 32-bit and 64-bit Microsoft Windows. MPC mimics the look and feel of Windows Media Player 6.4, but provides most options and features available in modern media players.

Microsoft Access

Access is a powerful database application. It features templates and tools for creating databases for education, finance, inventory, sales and marketing and other purposes.

Microsoft Excel

Excel is a spreadsheet application. Excel allows you to create tables and forms for performing calculations on large amounts of data in different formats including financial transactions, lists and even simple databases.

Microsoft PowerPoint

PowerPoint lets users create a variety of presentations, calendars, and flyers. It features a variety of templates and tools to aid in the creation of rich presentations with tables, graphics, photos, audio and video.

Microsoft Publisher

Publisher is a dedicated desktop publishing application specifically for creating a variety of documents and marketing materials. Publisher is suitable for creating newsletters, documentation, brochures, catalogs, etc.

Microsoft.NET Runtime

.NET Framework (pronounced dot net) is a software framework developed by Microsoft that includes a large class library named Framework Class Library (FCL) and provides language interoperability across several programming languages.

Microsoft Silverlight

Microsoft Silverlight (or simply Silverlight) is an application framework for writing and running rich Internet applications, similar to Adobe Flash.

Microsoft Word

Word is a word processor that includes a wide variety of tools for creating simple business letters or memos and for creating greeting cards, newsletters, and other documents. Word includes a selection of templates to get you started.

Paint.NET

Paint.NET is a general graphics and photo editing application. It features a variety of editing tools for the editing and creation of both simple and complex multi-layered images for desktop publishing, presentations, photo collections, labels, the web, and more.

Windows Media Player

Windows Media Player is a multipurpose media player application for music listening, Internet radio listening, and watching videos and movies. It supports playback of a wide variety of audio and video formats and supports play lists and favorites. Headphones are needed.