Re: Karen Coyle's article, I am really torn on RFID chips and their place in the library. I think they could be incredibly useful for locating lost materials and for preventing theft in libraries, but it seems to me that they could also be extremely invasive and could quite easily breach a patron's deserved privacy. It would be all too easy to "track" a patron this way--and this frankly makes me very uncomfortable.
LAN technology is obviously pretty crucial for libraries. The ability to for one geographic area to have a single shared network connection between all their machines makes things like printing, database subscription and IP authentication far easier to implement for students, libraries and their staff. This is a great technology that can hopefully only be improved in time.
I actually had no idea there were so many kinds of computer networks. This is kind of mind-blowing, in a really good way. As I said above, this sort of technology is crucial for a library's success, and we can only hope that faster and better networks continue to be built.
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I think not only are networks crucial to libraries they are too the whole world! It's really amazing!
I am a student in Philadelphia can sign in through a proxy to be able to enter the Pitt library and network. It's amazing how networks change geography.
I agree with you on the use of RFID tags in libraries. If there was a way to ensure a library patrons privacy would be protected I would be all for their use. Instead I look at their use with trepidation.
I worry about the privacy issue as well. This is something that goes beyond libraries. EZPass highway toll systems use RFID. Imagine getting a speeding ticket in the mail because you averaged 73mph between Philly and Pgh.
Our consortium of libraries in DC has moved away from using SSNs and I hear other libraries are doing the same.
Wow everybody loves commenting on your blog. Your right to be concerned about RFID technology and privacy. It isn't so much as Jake said that approved users can track what you do, like with Easy Pass. Theoretically they the state could do that with regular turnpike tickets (although it would be more of a hassle then it is worth) the major issue is that most RIFD information is unencrypted and can easily be read by technologically savy person. This could have multiple consequences for libraries. If RFID technology is only in the books then people could at least tell what books you have with you. If RFID technology is embedded into library cards then third parties could potentially more easily hijack out account, tell all of books you have checked out etc.
Here is a link to an article that further explores such issues.
http://www.cs.berkeley.edu/~dmolnar/library.pdf
I had similiar feelings after reading about the RFID technology. I think, other than finding missing items, the costs would out weigh the benfits. Barcodes have worked find, and I think we would rather spend our money on databases, etc.
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