Robert
We use pac 1.3 timeout with Window 2000 and use guest tickets like your
dummy tickets. This controls the timing and the age based on dynix records .


We used barcodes only to start with, but quickly found that people were
copying numbers off guest tickets to get round the timing.
More deviously some people were working out that the ticket serial numbers
follow a pattern (i.e. they all start with the same 5 or so digits). By
making guesses, they were using other borrowers' allocations up. Another
tactic was to copy the ticket number off the tickets of people sitting near
by. Similarly children were copying numbers off parents' tickets.

Lifelong learning in action. It took about 5 weeks to learn at least 5 ways
of getting round the system.
We decided to introduce PIN numbers to verify the barcode numbers, and this
worked ok. We eventually settled on giving out random 4-digit PINs made up
by staff and handed over on folded over sheets with warning to keep them
secure. (we shied off asking them to eat them them once memorised)
The only other thing that caused us problems is that we have a community
resources module on dynix which is not controlled by timing. Unfortunately
we had to remove the live hyperlinks in this, as they enabled people to open
up the browser without the timing and age controls

Totally agree with your point about not worrying forever, but just get the
machines out and learn fast!
Also agree about keeping the spec standard. Both IT support section and the
customers appreciate the fact that every machine in every branch does
exactly the same thing. They only have to learn one set-up. Here's what we
have
http://www.rbwm.gov.uk/libraries/computers.htm

Andrew Lewis
e-Services Officer
Library and Information Services
Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead
01628 796 592
[log in to unmask]


-----Original Message-----
From: Day Robert [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: 03 May 2002 14:15
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: People's Network launches in Cambridgeshire


Dear all

People's Network is now up and running in Cambridgeshire at five of our 41
service points. The project so far has seen the addition of almost 110
Windows 2000 PCs to our existing county Internet provision. All but seven of
our branches could be served by Learning Stream with BT leased lines filling
the gaps for those unsuited to the former. In many cases the network
switchover from leased lines (varying capacities - avg. 64k) to Learning
Stream is going ahead of the rollout of new PCs so customers are benefitting
from faster Internet access (all of our libraries offered free net access
before the People's Network project) even though they may not yet receive
the other enhancements we have built into the system.

Careful design of the system with the overriding aims of

* Providing a multi-functional platform for the integrated delivery of a
wide range of information and learning resources
* Standardisation - to allow ease and consistency of support, both
technical and for users
* Ease of use
* Equality of access for all
* Fixing and preventing future occurrences of known issues (unauthorised
downloads, malicious tampering, etc) from the past 5 years of public
Internet Access in the County.

led to our rollout being delayed until February of this year when Ely
library acted as a pilot for the set-up. A relatively bug-free launch there
was swiftly followed up with developments at Whittlesey, Arbury Court, St
Ives and Huntingdon libraries. These latter four were all beneficiaries of
NOF/DFEE CALL funding hence their places at the top of the programme.

Customer feedback has been good, concentrating on the increased speeds of
access and the greater capacity, particularly at busy periods. We utilise
direct online feedback forms for our customers, the results of which are
mailed directly to me but also fed into a database for later retrieval (when
I do not accidentally delete the first two months worth, that is!). Staff at
those libraries we have yet to reach are also very excited by the prospect
and it is a disappointment to them to be told that they may be near the tail
end of the rollout plan which we hope to be completing early to mid 2003. It
is difficult for us to accelerate the programme greatly from the three
libraries per month target without compromising on pre-implementation
training and preparation for deploying the systems.

Our system uses epixtech's Pac 4 Windows product to validate users (any
member of the library service) and we hold dummy cards at our branches for
those visitors who are not members. It offers a certain level of system
security and also allows instant access to the library catalogue from all of
our terminals. I would be interested in swapping experiences and tips with
anyone else using this product for their People's Network terminals - please
feel free to mail me direct.

There are still issues for us to resolve around such areas as the level of
authentication needed to maintain security between the public and corporate
networks, supporting documentation, honing the main interface as a result of
customer feedback and other problems but this is a celebration of success to
date. Anyone waiting for the perfect system before being willing to deploy
will never put a PC on a desk anywhere.

Robert Day
ICT Manager
Cambridgeshire Libraries and Information Service


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