[Web4lib] Single Sign-On [SSO] Software

[Lin Light]

We use Pharos, which looks and feels a lot like the Ann Arbor product. One
thing we do require is a library card in good standing. Our view is making
sure that those paying taxes to support our library can have access. Those
who don't can't. In Michigan, budgets are getting tight and to get our point
across this works well. We also view computer access the same as anyother
library service, you have fines over $10.00 you can't checkout materials and
that goes for computer access as well. 


Lin

-----Original Message-----
From: web4lib-bounces at webjunction.org
[mailto:web4lib-bounces at webjunction.org] On Behalf Of Bruce Brigell
Sent: Thursday, June 14, 2007 8:37 PM
To: web4lib at webjunction.org
Subject: [Web4lib] Single Sign-On [SSO] Software

Does anyone have any experience with Single Sign-on Software utilities?
 
I know that they are in use at Ann Arbor Public Library and Phoenix Public
Library, but have not as yet been able to contact people there to find out
which one they are using. 
 
Wikipedia has a nice list of some of the products available--just curious
which ones have been adapted successfully in a library environment.
 
Background info:
 
John Blyberg in his blog entry entitled Library 2.0 websites: Where to
begin?
http://www.blyberg.net/2006/03/12/library-20-websites-where-to-begin/
<http://www.blyberg.net/2006/03/12/library-20-websites-where-to-begin/>
writes:

I think it's time libraries took the notion of single sign-on seriously.
We need to get away from the model where patrons are required to have their
library cards handy every time they reserve an item. Who wants to have one
set of credentials to access the OPAC and yet another to make a blog
comment, or fill out an ILL request? Why not be like the rest of the world
and simply require a username and password? Let me take this one step
further, as well, and suggest that your new websites support session-based
single sign-on--a useful little bit of web technology that has been around
since, well, almost forever. When I create an account on a site I use
frequently, I expect that I'll not have to keep re-entering my password
every time I visit. Otherwise, I won't be visiting that site very
frequently.

Wikipedia has an entry on SSO
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Single_sign-on
<http://library20.ning.com/forum/topic/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Single_sign
-on>  that links to an interesting article
<http://www.authenticationworld.com/Single-Sign-On-Authentication/>  on the
Authentication world site.


Bruce Brigell
Skokie Public Library
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