Specs for an ideal public library web browser

[Joseph Schallan]

Would the group be interested in working together to
develop a list of specifications for an "ideal" library
web browser?  During the year I've been on web4lib I've
seen numerous postings all with the same theme: tweaking
Netscape to get it to behave in particular ways seen as
desirable by librarians.

Perhaps when we're done we could approach a developer
with the idea of developing extensions aimed specifically
at our needs.  I would be quite willing to pay a reasonable
per-client license fee for a browser that had just the
right extensions (or switches, or whatever you want to term
them -- yes, I know the terms have specific technical
meanings . . .)

Some things we could use at our library:

A convenient way to lock patrons out of our hard drives.

A convenient way to block certain sites (we're not that
pleased with SurfWatch).  And let's not get off-thread
on this one about the philosophical implications of
libraries doing web censorship.  Those that have problems
with the idea don't need to use that particular feature.

A timeout feature that automatically resets the browser
to the home page after so many minutes of keyboard or mouse
inactivity.

A feature that allows conspicuous notice to the patron about
cached pages and allows him or her to flush them, to
protect his or her privacy.

A feature that allows the library to set time-delimited
sessions.  (We're having serious difficulties with work-
station hogging.)  I'm thinking of a feature that would
automatically shut the browser down after x minutes, with
a notification that the time limit had expired.


Naturally these are just ideas to get everyone thinking.
They may be naive or impractical.  First question:  Is it
naive or impractical to develop a list of specs to take
to a developer?  (I am assuming that there is a large
market -- in the form of tens of thousands of public
libraries -- for an appropriately extended browser.)

Your thoughts will be most highly appreciated!

Thanks,

Joe Schallan
jschall at glenpub.lib.az.us
Glendale (Arizona) Public Library