tablets come with spyware / was: [WEB4LIB] Low-Cost Prototype OPAC System

[James Olson]

Your experience with Sandy shows how important redundancy is, and how it
tends to get lost in the cloud.  If your system had a mirrors at other
locations, when the main branch went down, you would still have your
information services.  Further, if your information only exists at one
server, and that server suffers a disaster, the information could easily be
lost.

It also shows how even without the 21st century services that we're so
worried about in this thread, libraries still serve the community.


On Wed, Dec 26, 2012 at 5:53 AM, Janet Fine <janetrfine at hotmail.com> wrote:

>  *12.26.12
>
> Good morning,
>
> This is the first time I have offerred my opinion on this listserv, but I
> find this discussion interesting.  Institutions, like all living things,
> must adapt to be relevant and thereby survive. However, it is also true
> that the key to success in business is to find a product that only they can
> offer and make it the best darn (fill in the blank) money can buy.*
> * *
> *The library profession is constantly self examining and seeking to
> reinvent itself.  A recent article in Library Journal describes  libraries
> seeking to create Maker Space so patrons can work on special projects, such
> as music recordings and woodwork, etc. and thereby make the library more
> "relevant."*
>
>
> http://www.thedigitalshift.com/2012/10/public-services/the-makings-of-maker-spaces-part-1-space-for-creation-not-just-consumption/
>
> *Other libraries are lending power tools, cooking utensils and the like.
> I'm not sure where these trends are leading the profession, but time will
> tell. *
> *It is one thing to give instruction in downloading ebooks onto Kindles
> and Nooks and another thing to lend the Kindle and the Nooks and the
> responsiblity and expense that this involves.*
> **
> *Our experience during storms and calm weather alike have shown that
> patrons want programs, powerful and reliable wi-fi, lots of public
> computers , public printers and a warm/cool comfortable place to work with
> lots of electrical outlets and ample workspace for studying and reading.
> Small conference areas for tutoring and group projects are constantly in
> demand. Patrons also expect that staff will remind patrons of the need for
> coutesy and respect of library policies, such as limiting cell phone usage.
> During Hurricane Sandy most residents were without power for 14 days
> and our Main Library also had no power for 14 days as well. As a
> result, our 3 Branches which had power, had no systems functions--no
> circulation system, no catalog, no website. However, the 3 Branches had
> heat and power. Power and heat were rare commodities for 14 days
> and patrons flooded the 3 Branches.  We extended our Branch hours and could
> probably have stayed opened 24 hours a day. These were exceptional
> circumstances, but it was very apparent that libraries as public
> spaces must adapt and be flexible as patron needs change very quickly.*
> **
> *However, it is also important to remember that providing access to
> reliable, balanced and accurate information is one of our primary
> functions. Libraries are the great equalizers in our society and access to
> vetted information is crucial to our mission.  The profession should always
> be open to experimentation but not at the expense of our "prime
> directive."  *
> **
> *Of course, these opinions are mine (all mine!) alone.*
> **
> *I hope everyone's New Year is happy, healthy, safe and warm!*
> **
> *Kind regards,*
> *Janet Fine
> Department Head, Circulation and Computer Services
> Great Neck Library
> 159 Bayview Avenue
> Great Neck, NY 11023*
> *janetfine at greatnecklibrary.org *
> *(516) 466-8055 ext. 205*
>
>
>  > Date: Tue, 25 Dec 2012 21:46:18 -0800
> > From: listuser at CHILLCO.COM
>
> > Subject: Re: [WEB4LIB] tablets come with spyware / was: [WEB4LIB]
> Low-Cost Prototype OPAC System
> > To: WEB4LIB at LISTSERV.ND.EDU
>
> >
> > Wow. This started out as an inquiry about coming up with a low-cost
> > OPAC kiosk, morphed into a discussion of tablet spyware, and, like
> > Voyager (the spacecraft, not the ILS) it seems to be headed to a new
> > solar system.
> >
> > I am not commenting on the content of the last post. This is just a
> > note to myself to wear a helmet when trying to follow these threads.
> >
> > Cary
> >
> > On Mon, Dec 24, 2012 at 9:28 PM, Richard Wiggins
> > <richard.wiggins at gmail.com> wrote:
> > > I've watched this discussion with interest. It seems that libraries are
> > > searching for a role in this age of laptops and tablets and such.
> > >
> > > In my opinion, the role of a public library is to provide access to
> > > information. It is not to be cool or current. Therefore IMHO it is
> great
> > > to provide Wi-Fi. It is foolish to seek to provide the latest devices
> for
> > > checkout. Let the patrons bring their own devices, and provide them USB
> > > power and a comfortable place to sit. Offer an old-fashioned PC with
> > > Internet access for those who lack fancy hand-held devices. Leave
> them, as
> > > it were, to their own devices.
> > >
> > > As to content, I think that is a different discussion, but once again,
> the
> > > role is basic access, not trying to be Best Buy on the fly.
> > >
> > >
> > > On Wed, Dec 19, 2012 at 8:04 AM, Christian Pietsch
> > > <chr.pietsch+web4lib at googlemail.com> wrote:
> > >>
> > >> Hi Cary,
> > >>
> > >> interesting point! Unfortunately, using an Android or iOS tablet as a
> > >> public
> > >> terminal is probably illegal in many countries, including all EU
> countries
> > >> --
> > >> for valid reasons. The problem is that Google/Apple as well as many
> app
> > >> creators collect personal information from users.
> > >>
> > >> In return for getting tablets at a subsidized price (the regular
> price),
> > >> libraries offering such tablets to their users would automatically
> hand
> > >> over
> > >> detailed information about their users without their consent.
> Installing
> > >> spyware-free operating systems and software may be a way out. Firefox
> OS
> > >> (formerly Boot2Gecko) comes to mind. Are there other alternatives
> that run
> > >> on
> > >> current tablets?
> > >>
> > >> Don't get me started on e-book readers. Libraries lending them to
> patrons
> > >> may
> > >> already aid and abet data crime/spying:
> > >>
> > >>
> http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304870304577490950051438304.html
> > >>
> > >>
> http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/booksblog/2012/jul/05/e-reader-spying-big-deal
> > >>
> > >> Cheers,
> > >> Christian
> > >>
> > >>
> > >> On Tue, Dec 18, 2012 at 03:52:34PM -0800, Cary Gordon wrote:
> > >> > That said, I think that taking this approach to building a kiosk,
> > >> > while it might be fun, is not all that efficient. My first choice
> > >> > would be an android tablet. You can buy a name brand 10" android
> > >> > tablet for about $200 and an off-brand for about $150 (thinking
> > >> > WalMart).
> > >> >
> > >> > I can't imagine putting together a package like that using an SBC
> for
> > >> > that price. Just the monitor would be more than that.
> > >>
> > >>
> > >> --
> > >> Christian Pietsch <http://purl.org/net/pietsch>
> > >> LibTec (Library Technology and Knowledge Management),
> > >> Bielefeld University Library, Bielefeld, Germany
> > >>
> > >> ============================
> > >>
> > >> To unsubscribe: http://bit.ly/web4lib
> > >>
> > >> Web4Lib Web Site: http://web4lib.org/
> > >>
> > >> 2012-12-19
> > >
> > >
> > > ============================
> > >
> > > To unsubscribe: http://bit.ly/web4lib
> > >
> > > Web4Lib Web Site: http://web4lib.org/
> > >
> > > 2012-12-25
> >
> >
> >
> > --
> > Cary Gordon
> > The Cherry Hill Company
> > http://chillco.com
> >
> > ============================
> >
> > To unsubscribe: http://bit.ly/web4lib
> >
> > Web4Lib Web Site: http://web4lib.org/
> >
> > 2012-12-26
>  ============================
>
> To unsubscribe: http://bit.ly/web4lib
>
> Web4Lib Web Site: http://web4lib.org/
>
> 2012-12-26
>

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2012-12-31
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