Library That Doesn't Allow The Use Their Plugs

StormLiongStormLiong Join Date: 2002-12-27 Member: 11569Members
edited July 2005 in Off-Topic
<div class="IPBDescription">to plug your laptop...</div> I find this really strange at one public library in UK (Wood Green, London). The public library there recently got a wifi service installed in it. So me and friend (who lives nearby it) decided to go there and do some schoolwork in there.

So we find a table and I plug the laptop in. Some moments later one of the library attendant passes by and tells me that I need to unplug it as I am not allowed to use the library power plugs.

I found it really odd about it because I don't see any valid reason why I should not be able to use it. It wasn't as if I had my power cable trailing all over the place either. I couldn't be bothered to argue with the attendant and just followed through. When I repeated this when I was at the same library I got the same order.

I do not usually go to a public library to use my laptop there except my school library so maybe public library don't like laptop user's adding to their electric bill? I just find it really odd.

PS Let me note that public library is a pretty big one as well
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Comments

  • Fatal_ErrorFatal_Error Join Date: 2005-01-15 Member: 35840Members
    <!--emo&:(--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/sad-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='sad-fix.gif' /><!--endemo--> That sucks. What about a battery though?
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  • That_Annoying_KidThat_Annoying_Kid Sire of Titles Join Date: 2003-03-01 Member: 14175Members, Constellation
    my local library doesn't allow people to hook the computers up to the interweb


    but librarys can tell people not to use their power...
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  • StormLiongStormLiong Join Date: 2002-12-27 Member: 11569Members
    edited July 2005
    <!--QuoteBegin-Fatal Error+Jul 15 2005, 09:47 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Fatal Error @ Jul 15 2005, 09:47 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> <!--emo&:(--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/sad-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='sad-fix.gif' /><!--endemo--> That sucks. What about a battery though? <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    Huh? Well I just can't plug my laptop on the library's main supply. So I just have to use my own laptop's internal batteries.

    My reaction is that its just plain stingy of the library. Because the only two valid speculative reasons I could think of was perhaps
    1. The library was saving on their electric bill
    2. They don't want laptop users sucking up their wifi service so limiting laptop users by their batttery life.

    I just dont't plain see what is so wrong with laptop users hooking up.
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  • TychoCelchuuuTychoCelchuuu Anememone Join Date: 2002-03-23 Member: 345Members
    Obviously they think you're from the FBI, trying to use the power cable as a way to enforce the Patriot Act's provisions that let you spy on library records. Duh.
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  • JediYoshiJediYoshi The Cupcake Boss Join Date: 2002-05-27 Member: 674Members
    <!--QuoteBegin-StormLiong+Jul 15 2005, 07:51 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (StormLiong @ Jul 15 2005, 07:51 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> <!--QuoteBegin-Fatal Error+Jul 15 2005, 09:47 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Fatal Error @ Jul 15 2005, 09:47 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> <!--emo&:(--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/sad-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='sad-fix.gif' /><!--endemo--> That sucks. What about a battery though? <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    Huh? <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    <i>Huh? </i>He's saying why not resort to good old batteries instead of using a power outlet.
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  • StormLiongStormLiong Join Date: 2002-12-27 Member: 11569Members
    <!--QuoteBegin-JediYoshi+Jul 15 2005, 10:14 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (JediYoshi @ Jul 15 2005, 10:14 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> <!--QuoteBegin-StormLiong+Jul 15 2005, 07:51 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (StormLiong @ Jul 15 2005, 07:51 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> <!--QuoteBegin-Fatal Error+Jul 15 2005, 09:47 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Fatal Error @ Jul 15 2005, 09:47 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> <!--emo&:(--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/sad-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='sad-fix.gif' /><!--endemo--> That sucks. What about a battery though? <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    Huh? <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    <i>Huh? </i>He's saying why not resort to good old batteries instead of using a power outlet. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    Oh. Cos my laptop's battery only last 1.5 hours max and especially when I am using intensive progs like photoshop and flash that battery lifetime gets even shoter. And usually me and my friend work on at least half a day usually on some of the projects we are doing.
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  • MantridMantrid Lockpick Join Date: 2003-12-07 Member: 24109Members
    Well, you could try rigging up a bunch of car batteris to a plug, so you can plug your laptop in, then bring this massive powersupply to the library and put it on one of their tables. Casually mention to them that you wouldn't have to do this if they'd let you plug in.

    Its the **** solution, and I wholeheartedly support it.
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  • ScytheScythe Join Date: 2002-01-25 Member: 46NS1 Playtester, Forum Moderators, Constellation, Reinforced - Silver
    This is why:

    Look at every other plug in that library. I can assure you now that it will have a tag on it showing that it has been checked by an authorised electrician who made sure that it was safe and wouldn’t trip the earth leakage.

    It’s just a legal/convenience thing. They don’t want your (possibly) broken power cables tripping their circuit breaker or earth leakage.

    --Scythe--
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  • X_StickmanX_Stickman Not good enough for a custom title. Join Date: 2003-04-15 Member: 15533Members, Constellation
    <!--QuoteBegin-Scythe+Jul 16 2005, 12:41 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Scythe @ Jul 16 2005, 12:41 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> This is why:

    Look at every other plug in that library. I can assure you now that it will have a tag on it showing that it has been checked by an authorised electrician who made sure that it was safe and wouldn’t trip the earth leakage.

    It’s just a legal/convenience thing. They don’t want your (possibly) broken power cables tripping their circuit breaker or earth leakage.

    --Scythe-- <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    Or..... Maybe..... They <b>haven't</b> been checked and they're just making sure that no one can possibly harm themselves while using it....

    IT'S A CONSPIRACY I SAY!
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