Sessions-Based Model vs. Minutes-Based Model
Libraries must choose whether they want users to have a certain number of sessions per day.
These sessions are configured to last a certain amount of time based on the time allotted per area
– OR --
Libraries may choose to allow users to have a certain amount of minutes per day which provides
“unlimited” logins per day with a maximum minute limit.
Session-Based Model Minute-Based Model
Use limits counted on a per session Use limits counted on a per minute
basis basis
Users are provided with a maximum Users are provided with a maximum
number of sessions or turns per day number of minutes per day
Users can log into PCs a certain Users can log into PCs as many
number of times per day in order to use times as they want as long as they have
their available time not exceeded their total number of
allotted minutes for the day.
Each time a user ends a session that Each time a user begins to use
session is subtracted from the another minute of time on a PC that
remaining available sessions. minute is subtracted from the
remaining available minutes
Once a session is ended, any Unused time is not subtracted from
remaining minutes in the session that the user’s available minutes remaining
have not been used are lost and for the day and can be used later.
cannot be used later.
The amount of time assigned per The amount of time assigned per
use is determined by the Session use is determined by the Session
Length configured on the Sessions tab Length configured on the Sessions tab
in the Management Console in the Management Console
Preferences or the Area menu choice of Preferences or the Area menu choice of
the Management Console. the Management Console up to the
maximum remaining minutes for a user.
Total time spent on Client PCs may Total time spent on Client PCs
exceed total time allowed per day cannot exceed total time allowed
due to time extensions but the per day but users can log into PCs as
number of sessions allowed per many times as they wish. If your
day cannot be exceeded. Auto- usage tendency is frequent short
extension of time could permit longer sessions, minute limits may be
use for users that choose to use your preferred. However, once a user
facilities at times when your system is reaches the maximum minutes per
not busy. day, time will not be extended even
if other computers are not in use.
Choose to count no shows against Choose to count no shows against
users or ignore them altogether. users as a full session, count only the
grace period, or ignore them
altogether.
@Client sessions can be made up to @Client sessions can be made up to
one minute before closing. one minute before closing.
The Session-Based Model
When using the Session-based Model:
PC use is based on the number of times per day a user can log into a PC.
Time is viewed in five-minute blocks, which are part of a greater block of time - a session.
Once a session is either ended early by the user or the allotted amount of minutes for that
session has been reached, the user has one less session available for use that day.
(Example Scenario) - You may configure the system so that two sessions are allowed per day.
Users have a chance to login to a session twice during that day and may use a PC for 60
minutes per session in the Internet area. If the user chooses to end the session before the 60
minutes has elapsed he or she will lose the remaining minutes and must log into the second 60
minute session in order to use a PC again (except in cases where automatic time extension is
enabled). No matter how many of the allotted 60 minutes per session are used, the user only has
two chances to use the full 120 minutes. (However, if the library also has a family history
area for example, that permits 90 minutes per session, a user could get more than two
hours if he or she were to use one session in the 60 minute PC Reservation Internet area
and one session in the family history area.)
The Minutes-Based Model
When using The Minute-based Model:
It allows a user to login to a PC as many times as he/she wishes as long as they have not
exceeded the allotted amount of minutes for the day.
The system monitors the remaining time available to the user by tracking how many of the
available minutes have been used.
Any minutes that are unused during an assigned reservation, may be used later since usage is
being tracked by the minute and not by sessions or “turns”.
(Example Scenario) - If you impose a 120 minute per day restriction, one user might get 6 turns per day
at 20 minutes per session (his or her choice) whereas another user might get one 120-minute session.
The user decides how to use the allotted amount of time available per day. The amount of time available
to users per day depends on your preferences for system settings.