Vast Active Library and Information Science blog. From a recent library science graduate in Wellington, New Zealand. A focus on reference and current awareness tools and issues, especially free, web-based resources.

 
Xeni Jardin blogs that an Illinois is introducing fingerprint scanners, in order to verify the identity of computer users, and prevent people using their friends' library cards to log on. Not only are there privacy/civil liberties issues here, as Xeni says: "Way to make libraries a more happyfun haven of knowledge, guys!".

And, y'know, it seems to me that encouraging non-card holders to come into the library, even if only to use the internet, might make them more aware of all the other things the library offers, and maybe make them become library members. And after all, presumably they are members of the community that funds the library, and therefore just as entitled to access as anyone else?



| posted by Simon at 3:53 pm