Lab restrictions
Public-Access Computer Systems Forum
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From: Dan Lester <d...@84.com>
At 01:53 PM 3/25/99 -0600, you wrote:
>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>I am dealing with a small public academic library that recently moved
>into a new building, complete with a 30-workstation lab that includes
>Internet access. They have a small staff, so there are times when they
>are helping students and the lab is not monitored. Soon the other
>computers on campus will have Internet access.
Boise State University (public, 15,000 students) has 43 net workstations,
all within sight (more or less) of the reference desk. However, there are
times when the desk isn't staffed, and others when the librarians are off
helping people away from the desk. There are computer labs on campus with
internet access.
>The llibrary staff is considering restricting the types of
>work/entertainment that can be done in this lab. Possibilities for
>restrictions might include academic use only or not viewing electronic
>mail.
I consider the "academic use only" to be as bottomless a pit as "obscene",
as both are almost impossible to define, or at least to get agreement on.
>Have any of you instituted these types of restrictions? How have you
>done so? Are there legal implications?
The library computers described above are all restricted to block some
FUNCTIONS, but not CONTENT. Specifically, we block access to web based
email, web based chat, and web based game playing. We do this by forcing
all of the web stations to proxy through a proxy server (WinProxy, an
excellent and inexpensive one for Win9x or WinNT). There is a list of
sites we block at www.84.com/blacklist.htm, and you're welcome to join
those other libraries using it, and to contribute additions or corrections,
which are made regularly. As far as the "inappropriate or offensive
content" issue, I'd go with whatever the university's policy is and deal
with it as prescribed. Our webstations are locked down with WinSelectKiosk
and WinSelectPolicy, both of which are available for trial download from
www.winselect.com. We tried a number of others before settling on this
one. Users can only get to a browser, telnet, and our CDROM network, and
can only save to a floppy. We've not had a machine's security compromised
in over a year.
>They are also considering installing software that allows the
>librarian/library aide in the lab to view any workstation's screen at
>any time. Any comments on this?
I can't imagine even wanting to do that. I'm not as big a privacy freak as
most librarians, but that sounds like real trouble.
>Any help would be appreciated. Thanks for your time!
Good luck. I hope you'll let us know what you learn, and what you do.
cheers
dan
--
Good, Fast, and Cheap: Which two of the three would you like?
Dan Lester, 3577 East Pecan, Boise, ID 83716 USA 208-383-0165
d...@84.com http://www.84.com/ http://www.idaholibraries.org/
http://library.boisestate.edu/ http://www.lili.org/ http://www.postcard.org/
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From: timot...@nlb.gov.sg
My experience with monitoring is that it causes more problems than it is
worth. The most cost effective method IMHO is walking around.
I have had some experience with software allowing the administrator to see
what the user is doing. Most tend to slow down the system and the user
knows that you are watching as a result. We haven't used our software since
we installed it. Would suggest putting an extra line from the user's
monitor to the administrator's station: it is completely undetectable and
causes no software problems.
I have no idea what US law is regarding what might be considered
wiretapping. I would suspect a lot of bad publicity at the least.
Good luck!
Timothy Pwee
Systems Librarian
National Reference Library
National Library Board
Singapore