[11283] in Public-Access_Computer_Systems_Forum
Pictures on the Web--Responses
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (PACS-L Moderator)
Thu May 8 20:05:20 1997
Date: Thu, 08 May 1997 18:00:59 -0500
From: PACS-L Moderator <libpacs@UH.EDU>
To: PACS-L@LISTSERV.UH.EDU
Reply-To: Public-Access Computer Systems Forum <PACS-L@LISTSERV.UH.EDU>
----------------------------Original message----------------------------
2 Messages
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From: Bruce Gilbert <BG7601S@ACAD.DRAKE.EDU>
Subject: Reference Desks on the Web
My, my, what an interesting web (pardon the pun)
we are weaving, concerning the clicking of shutters:
Daniel Cwiertniewicz <dan@www.ugl.wayne.edu> wrote:
>Thanks. One minute I'm convinced that we shouldn't have cameras, and
>then someone like Dan Lester has a really clear and well thought out
>response that drags me back the other way.
A comment about Dan's comments about Dan's comments:
In re-reading Dan Lester's comments about cameras that
take single images for publication on the WorldWideWeb
(webcams), I don't see that he necessarily argues *for* these
devices at/near the reference desk. What he is arguing,
by my reading, is that such devices are neither illegal nor unethical.
Dan Lester may, indeed, think they are a good idea as well, but
he hasn't said that.
Sandra Clockedile <wla@mail2.nai.net> wrote:
>I finally have to chime in on this one now that Dan Lester has pointed
>out that, in fact, there is no real legal issue involved here.
Well, I'm going to nitpick for just a moment here:
Let's suppose that the images created by this webcam are cached
(that is, stored) for a period of time after they appeared on the Web, are
stored on a server in the library. And let's say that Jane Student
is accused of credit card forgery at the local Piggly-Wiggly at
1 p.m. Jane Student says, "I couldn't have done that; I was
at the college library at that time, and they
have a camera there that took my picture." City police now
show up at the reference desk, demanding to see the cache.
Does any action that occurs after this point sound appetizing?
While I doubt that most webcam setups automatically cache
material, it is trivially easy to do; and even if your
machine doesn't the potential is there for workstations
both internal and external to your library to save the images.
My point is, just because something is legal, does NOT mean it
has no legal ramifications (and your campus counsel will be happy
to explain this to your administration, at his or her usual
hourly rate, of course).
Michael Silverberg <michaels@salieri.informatics.sunysb.edu> wrote:
>I would just like to make a general point - just because something CAN be
>done doesn't mean it SHOULD be.
Rem acu tetigisti, Michael. Neither Dan Lester nor any other
correspondent has, to date, tried to offer a justification as to why
one should need a constantly-updated picture of the reference
desk. If remote people want to know (for whatever
reason) if the reference desk is busy, they have recourse
to that old throwback, the telephone.
Today we can easily find ourselves caught in a condition where
the newly possible eclipses the desireable. I would be
loathe to deny the wonder of gadgets such as digital cameras,
and webcams can be fun (if a little silly) use of that
technology. But something very negative is being said
when one is turned on someone's place of work, without
either the approval of the worker, or the presence of
a reason for it. When we ponder how to use such technology,
we must not let our values be shifted into neutral by the shiny
excitement induced by the undoubtable capabilities
of these baubles.
--
Bruce Gilbert http://www.drake.edu/lib/sys/bruce/
Systems Librarian -- Drake University E-Mail: bg7601s@acad.drake.edu
"Many said, We see no visions in the darksom air." -- William Blake
"Four lines, suffice a .sig" -- Anonymous
*-----
From: Adam Button <button05@mindspring.com>
Subject: Why Live Library Pictures on the Web?
>From: Wilton Library Association <wla@mail2.nai.net>
>Subject: Re: Pictures on the Web
>
>I finally have to chime in on this one now that Dan Lester has pointed
>out that, in fact, there is no real legal issue involved here.
>...
Legality doesn't necessarily make it appropriate. The ALA Code of Ethics,
the Library Bill of Rights, and the Freedom to Read Statement, policies to
which librarians look as guides to fair and equitable library services and
operations, are not legally binding. However, they remain conerstones of
the profession.
The one question I do not recall seeing an answer to here is, "why," the
original poster's computer folks want to put a live Web cam in the reference
area of the library. Although the computer dept. may be able to impose this
on the library, from a librarian's perspective, the "why" of this seems
basic. I cannot imagine a librarian just saying, "sure, cool, let's just do
it." This isn't the way librarians think. Pragmatism is a fundamental
characteristic and necessity of librarianship.
What value (or what does the computer dept. think) it will add to reference
services or how will it help the library or the parent institution? Also,
does placing a live Web cam in the library's reference area represent an
intelligent use of technology?
I believe that whatever benefits that could be achieved by installing a live
Web cam could be achieved through less intrusive and less expensive methods.
** "Use technology intelligently to enhance library services."
Walt Crawford and Michael Gormam. _Future Libraries: Dreams, Madness and
Reality_. Chicago: ALA, 1994.
*************************************************************************
Adam Button
MSLS, May 1997
School of Library and Information Science
Catholic University of America
Washington, DC
button05@mindspring.com
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