[Publib] Re: Internet reservation rules

[Andy Barnett]

At 09:51 AM 3/27/2009 -0400, you wrote:
>What do people do if you get patrons trying to use other patrons library 
>cards? (Does anyone use PIN number access along with a barcode scan?)

You will definitely get kids using other people's cards - mom's, sibling's, 
cousin's, someone who says their number out loud while typing it. Sometimes 
they think they can use a relative's card if the relative OK's it, but we 
explain that it is a clear violation of OUR rules. We throw them out of the 
library and tell them they will be banned if they do it again. Plus we 
usually add a note to the card so we can warn the other person that their 
card was being used by another person.

>How do libraries handle a) In county residents that are not library card 
>holders (possibly juveniles that don't have a card but in our case 
>wouldn't be able to get one because of outstanding fines on a parent 
>card), & b) out of county residents/people passing through town

If their card is clear or they would be eligible, they can get a temporary 
pass. Visitors always can get passes.

>Are there any libraries that have a wireless network that will 
>authenticate using this type of software (CASSIE has a product called SPOT 
>that will authenticate wireless users using the CASSIE system)? Is this 
>something that works well or is more of a headache? For those that do use 
>this, how do you handle non-residents/non card holders?

Our log in system (http://www.publicip.net/) asks for an email and let them 
assign themselves a password. Can they spoof the email? Yep, but it catches 
their MAC address.  [In computer networking, a Media Access Control address 
(MAC address) is a quasi-unique identifier assigned to most network 
adapters or network interface cards (NICs) by the manufacturer for 
identification. If assigned by the manufacturer, a MAC address usually 
encodes the manufacturer's registered identification number.] This gets us 
stats and might well allow us to track abusive use, though we haven't had 
to test that. We do not attempt to limit use to card holders.



Andy Barnett, Asst. Director            McMillan Memorial Library
490 East Grand Ave. Wisconsin Rapids, WI  54494
                 www.mcmillanlibrary.org
Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that 
matter.  -  Martin Luther King, Jr.