Libraries in the United States are committed to protect the civil liberties of its patrons. When using a library you have free and open access to information and the right to confidentiality and privacy. One issue seems to divide libraries and that is where to draw the line on monitoring programs so they don't trespass on constitutional rights. For instance some libraries think Internet guards put in place to protect children invade on patrons rights and are unconstitutional. When providing access there are many safeguards that must be set to protect public access computers and the patrons who use them.
Cables or locks are used by libraries to prevent theft during, or after hours. They are typically bolted to workstations. Keys for lock devices are generally kept in the custody of authorized personnel or placed in a safe. They also use other physical theft deterrent devises such as cabinets, alarms, or media safes.
Another protection option is permanently marking property in a prominently displayed area. Etching or engraving the library name into the computer so that it is both noticeable and very difficult to remove has proven to be very effective.
Public access computers are often vulnerable to inadvertent or malicious actions. Inexperienced users cause most inadvertent damages. However there is software available that when installed it will restore the drive to its original configuration. It will automatically restore on reboot or log-off ignoring any changes made to the system.
Special desktop security software is effective when a particular computer needs to be configured to block access to software. It gives you complete control of what can be done on your computer.
Libraries often use drive locks to prevent unauthorized use of floppy disks, which could carry viruses.
Libraries usually have time limits set for computer use. They use special software designed to let the administrator control the quantity of time used by each patron.
Libraries are concerned about patron protection as well. Patrons are encouraged to disable automatic information. Auto-complete features save information entered for Web addresses, forms, and passwords. So patrons must clear the address bar by deleting the items in the history folder and eliminating direct access to these sites by other users. In addition patrons need to clear the browser cache it stores all web pages visited during a session. This will help to stop the growing problem of
identity theft.
Written: September 15, 2006
By Kareena Batia e-mail: media(at)horizon-datasys.com
