[Web4lib] Laptop checkout security

[Bret Parker]

I know someone eluded to knowing the students personally. That works
well in a small environment. 

Policies that work in a larger community would need to stretch beyond
the keys to two or three points of verification.

In a former life at a Public Library in California:  
  1. Take keys or photo ID (DL) at the reference desk in exchange for
patron use of Mitchell's or Chilton's manuals.
  2. Library closes.
  3. Reference staff locks up. Oops!  Here is a set of unclaimed keys
in the drawer (and once in a while a DL).
  4. Next day:  confirmed the auto repair manual was not returned, it
never does get returned.

Lesson learned:
   After a policy is in place, people who want to steal and see a low
hurdle security system can and do steal. In this case, anonimity (which
is much more possible in a larger community) presented a clear
opportunity for getting away with theft.

Better solution:
 Take the ID or car or room keys and provide pointers to staff to
verify that these are not fakes (e.g. if all dorm keys look alike,
provide a photo of this).  Write that into the procedure. But also
record the transaction (either in the ILS, another computer systems, or
a paper-based system -- whatever works).

>>> "K.G. Schneider" <kgs at bluehighways.com> 2/7/2007 7:52:40 PM >>>
>  Why not take their ID or even car/room keys?  If they want to use a
> laptop they will comply wit the request.  We require students to
leave
> their ID card with us when they borrow course reserve materials.  If
we
> ever decide to have a formal program to loan out our laptops we would
go
> the same route.  Our laptops are now used mostly for instruction.
> Clearly labeling them is a must.
> 
> Bill Drew
> drewwe at morrisville.edu 

Bill, you bring up an interesting point about consistency across
policies.
We'll look into that as well. Thanks!

K.G. Schneider
kgs at bluehighways.com 

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