Why We Leave Our Computers On at Night

Jill Potter, Headquarters

With all the talk about saving energy and going green, you may wonder why we are asked to leave our computers on at the end of the day. Our first concern at the Library is public service. Tech Support schedules regular updates and maintenance that can be performed on computers while branches are closed, thus keeping the computers available for public and staff use during regular business hours. Microsoft Windows Updates and Anti Virus updates are scheduled for the off hours as well. Of course there will always be something that comes up that can only be done during business hours or during the scheduled branch visits. But for the most part, techs try to service the PCs as much as possible during the off hours.

Many of the services and repairs that Tech Support does while the branches are closed are done using a great technology called Virtual Network Computing, or VNC. VNC allows a technician to access a computer in the network directly from any computer in the network. Once a connection is established the technician can literally see the desktop image of that computer and have access to the programs and files as if they are sitting right in front of the machine. Thanks to today’s technology, we really can be in two (or more) places at once! Due to privacy concerns, Tech Support will contact the branch and inform them that someone will be accessing one or more computers if repairs are being performed during branch hours.

Using VNC, technicians may be able to perform emergency repairs almost immediately. Please remember to leave problem computers turned on so they can be accessed by Tech Support. However, monitors may be turned off.

So, remember, at the end of the day, leave the computers turned on and at the CTRL-ALT-DEL screen and turn the monitors off.