THis is in response to Geraldine and all others :

We have an older machine, with minimal memory, that we set aside (instead
of tossing out when the bigger ones came in) that permits individuals to
type letters(mostly applications) and papers on it.  They have to bring
their own diskettes and cannot save anything on the machine.

My personal opinion is that in this day and agae students and other
should have access to a word processor.   it gives a much superior
finished product than the typewriter, esp for those who are so-so
typists (most of us).   My private jesting with users, when I teach
them basic searching, is "you did not know that you need to learn to
type in order to get your MD degree".  This tends to put them at ease.

The foreign born students/residents have a lot more problems than the
"locals" who had to learn and use some typing/computer skills in
highschool.    Unfortunately, basic computer skills (typing included)
has become fundamental requirememnt in this day and age.  (AN old Israeli
joke states that one of the country's early Prime Ministers, a woman
named Golda Meir, reacahed her position _becasue_ she did not know how to
type - had she known that skill, she would have become the pary's
secretary for ever...).

And why sould a library not
provide it for users who canno afford to buy their own, or who have it
a home but need quick access during the day?  We do not expect them to
buy their own books, or journals, do we?

Dalia Kleinmuntz
Webster Library Evanston Hospital
2650 Ridge Ave.
Evanston IL 60201
[log in to unmask]            (847) 570-2665        FAX: (847) 570-2926

"The secret of caring for the patient is caring for the patient"
                                                       - Sir William Osler