[Web4lib] Restricting OPAC to just catalog and databases?

[KLINGLER, THOMAS]

Andrew gives a great list in his reply.  If you have any local technical
support at all, it's real easy to run a little local free proxy server
and maintain an access list of acceptable sites for that proxy.  We've
done this for years for PCs that live in remote areas of the building;
the public service folks want these machines used only for catalog
lookup.

Tom Klingler
Assistant Dean for Systems & Technical Services
Libraries & Media Services
Library Room 383 
Kent State University 
Kent, Ohio 44242-0001 
 

> -----Original Message-----
> From: web4lib-bounces at webjunction.org 
> [mailto:web4lib-bounces at webjunction.org] On Behalf Of Andrew
> Sent: Wednesday, June 06, 2007 4:39 PM
> To: Stacey McKim
> Cc: web4lib at webjunction.org
> Subject: Re: [Web4lib] Restricting OPAC to just catalog and databases?
> 
> Stacey,
> 
> There's a number of ways to do this (assuming Windows OS on 
> your Internet stations):
> 
> 1) Browser control: Products like Public Web Browser allow 
> you to create "whitelists" of acceptable sites where you can 
> limit which sites the browser will open.
> 
> 2) Third-party security: There are third-party security 
> products that you can install that will allow you to limit 
> which sites users can access.
> 
> 3) Filters and Proxy Server: You can run your browser through 
> a filter or proxy server that will allow you to create a list 
> of acceptable sites that users can access.
> 
> Which method will work for you will depend on how many 
> computers you need to support, how much money you want to 
> spend (if any) and what other considerations as far as 
> installing software, network control, etc. might impact the 
> preferred solution.
> 
> Personally, I use Public Web Browser and its whitelist 
> functionality. We also use PWB because of the ability to 
> customize and lock down the interface. It's also very similar 
> to IE (it actually runs on top of IE) so the learning curve 
> using it is very minimal.
> 
> http://www.teamsoftwaresolutions.com/
> 
> Andrew Mutch
> Library Systems Technician
> Waterford Township Public Library
> Waterford, MI
> 
> Stacey McKim wrote:
> > (Hi!  I'm sorry if this has already been covered, but I didn't have 
> > any luck searching the archives...)
> >
> > How do people restrict their OPACs to just their online catalog and 
> > subscription databases?  It's my understanding that there's 
> software 
> > that does this... what do people recommend?
> >
> > More information about my situation, in case it matters: 
> > this fall, we are finally upgrading from  dumb-terminal 
> OPACs (with no 
> > online access).  We'll be installing Unicorn, with them hosting us 
> > remotely.  So, our in-house OPACs will essentially be free-standing 
> > internet stations.
> >
> > Thank you so much! 
> >
> > Novice ILS-installer,
> > Stacey
> >
> > Stacey McKim
> > Reference Librarian
> > Marshalltown Public Library
> > 36 North Center Street
> > Marshalltown, IA 50158
> > (641)754-5738
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> >   
> 
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