[WEB4LIB] WEB4LIB digest 2681

[Fiona Mcgregor]

Until recently, we disabled access to those which were "good" (ie. less than
$5 owing) via a daily process of preparing & uploading to our webserver a
plain text file of card details, which our authentication (perl) scripts run
against.  
Our scripts check a library card's PIN prefix and re-route library card
numbers with "corporate borrower type" to a separate login page and deny
access to out-of-town library cards who aren't able to access databases such
as EBSCO.  We still run the same checks, but the file now includes all card
numbers, not only those that are "good", because of a change in library
policies and procedures.  

It's not the best system, because it means there's a delay before customers
can remotely access our 3rd party databases, but it does mean that we can
control access reasonably well.  If you want further details, I'm happy to
provide them.
cheers
fiona mcgregor
----------------------------------------
Fiona McGregor
Technology Coach/Webmistress
Wellington City Libraries
P O Box 1992
Wellington
New Zealand
Web http://www.wcl.govt.nz
Web catalogue http://www.wcl.govt.nz/catalogue/index.html
E-city - for thousands of full text magazines & newspapers
http://www.e-city.co.nz


> -----Original Message-----
> Topic No. 3
> 
> Date: Tue, 09 Jul 2002 21:59:12 -0400
> From: "S. O'Connor" <soconnr at interlog.com>
> To: web4lib at webjunction.org
> Subject: Fwd: Remote customer authentication in public libraries
> Message-ID: <5.0.0.25.0.20020709215753.01c11490 at mail.interlog.com>
> 
> >I am interested in finding out what public libraries are doing with 
> >regards to remote customer authentication for access to third-party 
> >commercial databases.
> >
> >Specifically, are there any libraries out there limiting remote access to
> 
> >electronic resources only to library card holders in "good standing" with
> 
> >the library?  In other words, are patrons denied remote access if, for 
> >example, their library cards' priviledges have been suspended, have 
> >outstanding fines or have any other kind of blocks on their records?
> >
> >So far, I have only talked to libraries whose authentication system weeds
> 
> >out remote users simply on the basis of them having a valid card or not.
> >
> >Thank you very much.
> >
>