I feel we have to tread a line between protecting our users and ourselves, and
respecting the anonimity of individuals, whilst making best use of the limited
and expensive technology we're implementing, free of charge to users, and
demonstrating to the powers-that-be that we're providing "Best Value".
We couldn't (arguably?) do that (effectively) with hard copy reference material,
but put it on a network, and the funders start asking for usage figures to
justify the spend.
I'm with Martin and Duncan, in that I'm not interested in tracking individuals,
only managing limited resources and proving their worth - We're not a police
state (thank goodness!).
I think that this *is* reconcilable, or to use Management-Speak, we can have a
"Win-Win" - use of "One-Time" ("One-Day?) only logins, ID's, smartcards, or
whatever technical gubbins is appropriate, allocated can give access to casual,
non-registered users, so we can all be happy bunnies (it *is* Easter, this
weekend, isn't it?...)
Happy Christmas,
John
-------------------------------------------
John Usher "I'd rather be Flying!"
ICT Development Librarian
Islington Library & Information Service
Education Department
Central Library
2 Fieldway Crescent
LONDON N5 1PF
Tel: +44 (0)20 7527 6920
Fax: +44 (0)20 7527 6926
Switchboard: +44 (0)20 7527 6900
mailto:[log in to unmask]
http://www.islington.gov.uk/libraries
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____________________Reply Separator____________________
Subject: Re: Monitoring public use of internet access
Author: "Martin Dudley" <[log in to unmask]>
Date: 17/12/00 11:24
The problem with having a membership requirement or a log on process for access
to networked information services is that this is socially exclusive. Access to
the network society requires for the socially excluded an open environmnet and a
great deal of courage perhaps. Getting (non-members)
through the door is hard enough - asking them to prove they exist even harder.
You don't have to be a member of a library or have any other qualification to
read a paper or use the reference library. I don't need permission to read about
what I want in a refernece book, and I certainly don't want a member of staff
checking which pages I read. Please don't put up barriers.
Read Open to All? The Public Library and Social Exclusion. Organise your ISPs
and ICT techies to deliver useful mangement stats if you have to.
[log in to unmask] wrote:
> As part of our "People's Network" strategy, we need to monitor the kind of
> use - morally-acceptable and otherwise - made of our public-access internet
> points.
> Questionnaires, however brief, are of limited use. The ideal, to my mind,
> woild be a system whereby a user logs onto the computer by means of scanning
> his/her reader's ticket. A programme on board could then not only record the
> user's identity but also the use made of the facility -
> internet/word-processing/spreadsheets etc.
>
> Does anyone know of such a system currently in use?
>
> Many thanks.
>
> Alun Williams
Martin P Dudley
Research and Innovation Services
29 Lang Road, Bishopthorpe, YORK YO23 2QJ, UK
+44 (0)1904 706557
Mobile and SMS: +44 (0)7950 414267
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