[OPLINLIST] Require library card for public wireless?

[Paris Robertson]

I can understand your viewpoint on this, however I'd be concerned with the
advent of portable tech so readily available today - it may not be the
parent that is providing the device to the child.  It's a simple matter for
a teen to borrow a device from a friend and if a parent has specifically
stated they don't want their child to have access to the internet while at
the library. you can see where I'm going with this.

 

-Paris Robertson

Deputy Fiscal Officer/Technology Coordinator

Upper Sandusky Community Library

301 North Sandusky Avenue

Upper Sandusky, OH 43351

PHONE (419) 294-1345

MOBILE (419) 310-8926

FAX - 419.294.4499

EMAIL -  <mailto:robertpa at oplin.org> robertpa at oplin.org

WEB -  <http://www.upper-sandusky.lib.oh.us/>
http://www.upper-sandusky.lib.oh.us/

 

From: oplinlist-bounces at lists.oplin.org
[mailto:oplinlist-bounces at lists.oplin.org] On Behalf Of Ken Butler
Sent: Thursday, July 26, 2012 3:15 PM
To: Phil Shirley
Cc: oplinlist at oplin.org
Subject: Re: [OPLINLIST] Require library card for public wireless?

 

Hi Phil,

 

At the Holmes County District Public Library we do not require a library
card for wireless use, but we do require users to accept usage terms. We use
Sputnik to do this via a captive portal. This absolves us of liability for
anything that the user might encounter while using our wireless services on
their own device. Because this fulfills the purpose of freeing our library
of liability, we chose not to require patrons to enter their library card
for authentication, as it seemed that it would be a hassle for patrons to
use the wireless, and an even bigger hassle for IT staff to set up and
maintain, with no real gains for anyone.

 

The one disadvantage that I can think of for not requiring authentication
through a library card would be that since the wireless connections do not
authenticate through the PC Reservation SIP server (or something similar), a
minor that was flagged for no internet access on our patron computers could
come into the library with a mobile device, be it a laptop, smart phone or
tablet, and access the internet without parental/guardian permission.
However, a minor whose parents or guardians allow them access to such a
device, but not the internet access the device was made for, seems unlikely.

 

On Thu, Jul 26, 2012 at 1:05 PM, Phil Shirley
<pshirley at cuyahogafallslibrary.org> wrote:

Do you require patrons to enter their library card number to use your
wireless Internet? If not, is it because you've chosen not to, or because
you don't have any way to do it?

We're about to implement SPOT from Librarica, and the issue of whether to
require a library card has come up. Thanks for any help you can give us.

Phil

Phil Shirley
Technology Services Coordinator
Cuyahoga Falls Library
Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio
330-928-2117, ext. 109 <tel:330-928-2117%2C%20ext.%20109> 
pshirley at CuyahogaFallsLibrary.org


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-- 
Ken Butler
hcotech at holmeslib.org
Head of Information Technology

Holmes County District Public Library
3102 Glen Drive
Millersburg, OH 44654
PH: 330-674-5972 ext 224 <tel:330-674-5972%20ext%20224> 

 

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