[OPLINTECH] Patron Privacy

[Jessica D. Dooley]

Hi Kevin,

 

We also have DeepFreeze installed, and public computers reboot between patron sessions. Session control is managed by Libki, an open-source patron time management software. Patrons can use their library card or a guest passed picked up at the desk to start a session. When they’re finished, ending their Libki session prompts a reboot. Our public computers reach max usage daily in the afternoon, and so there is often someone waiting when the previous patron finishes their session. I’ve never yet received a complaint about wait times between sessions due to the reboot, though I have received multiple questions from patrons concerned about their privacy when using a public workstation. They are reassured by the highly visible session control Libki provides. I agree that safeguarding patron privacy takes precedence over a brief delay between users; it’s amazing what patrons happily leave on public computers! I liked Eric’s suggestion – perhaps a discreet label on each computer stating “To protect your privacy, this computer will reboot after each use.”

 

Jessica D. Dooley

IT Specialist

Adams County Public Library

937-587-2085

dooleyje at adamscolibrary.org

 

From: Kevin Jones [mailto:kjones at coshoctonlibrary.org] 
Sent: Friday, January 08, 2016 12:17 PM
To: oplintech
Subject: [OPLINTECH] Patron Privacy

 

What do other libraries have in place to ensure patron privacy between Internet sessions?  We have the browsers set to not remember passwords and to delete history on exit.  We have DeepFreeze installed, but we are not rebooting the computers between sessions.  I know that rebooting the computers between sessions would clear out everything.  I have heard that some libraries are rebooting computers after each session.  During our busy times, waiting patrons would have to wait even longer.  How do you handle patrons that sit down while the computer is rebooting?  I know that we would have some impatient patrons.

 

Any ideas would be appreciated.

  
Kevin Jones

Network Admin

Coshocton Public Library

655 Main Street

Coshocton, OH 43812

Phone:  740-622-0956

Fax:  740-622-4331

 <http://coshoctonlibrary.org> coshoctonlibrary.org

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