[WEB4LIB] email in libraries

[Andrew I. Mutch]

Elvio,

There is a better way to allow access to POP3 accounts than allowing users
to set the browser preferences to get to it.  This is a page I set up at
my previous job for our patrons to access e-mail. 

http://northville.lib.mi.us/freemail.htm

In addition to the links to HotMail, etc. and to Telnet sessions, we
provided links to several on-line services that allow users to access
their accounts on-line and read and respond to messages on-line.  The
messages are not downloaded to the workstation so you don't have to worry
about deleting files.  Try viewing your own account through one of these
services to see how it works.  I would also encourage you to run a browser
without the mail client attached - like Netscape Navigator 4.0
stand-alone.  We found that this eliminated a lot of staff troubleshooting
caused by patrons using the mail client.

Andrew Mutch
Library Systems Technician
Charter Township of Waterford, MI
Waterford Township Public Library


On Tue, 8 Dec 1998, Elvio Pederzolli wrote:

> Hello
> 
> WE are seeking to expand the way we offer email to our library users. At
> the moment we offer web based e mail only - eg Hotmail etc - but are
> thinking of providing access to users who may have a POP 3 based
> account.
> 
> This presents problems because users are required to enter their account
> details into the mail reader - this information could be used by
> subsequent users of the mail software if someone does not clear their
> personal details from the mail reader. Also if a user has downloaded
> his/her mail it could be read by other users if they fail to delete it.
> 
> While you could run a batch file to blow away all downloaded mail at the
> end of a session - making sure that a users contact details have been
> removed is more difficult. We don't have the staff to check this all the
> time so it need to be automated.
> 
> What are other libraries doing about this ?
> 
> WE are also thinking of offering access to users accounts via telnet.
> Has anyone experienced any problem with this ?
> 
> Thanking you
> 
> Elvio Pederzolli
>