[14209] in Public-Access_Computer_Systems_Forum
Re: Data/feedback needed: Pre- and post-implementation of user
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Larry Greenwood)
Thu Dec 13 20:12:43 2001
Date: Thu, 13 Dec 2001 08:09:03 -0500
From: Larry Greenwood <greenwoo@MISU.NODAK.EDU>
In-reply-to: <85256B20.0045A7FD.00@spirit.spfldcol.edu>
To: PACS-L@LISTSERV.UH.EDU
Reply-to: Public-Access Computer Systems Forum <PACS-L@LISTSERV.UH.EDU>
Message-id: <Pine.OSF.4.21.0112130804180.18522-100000@warp6.cs.misu.nodak.edu>
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Rachael,
Obvia is not taking any new customers. They in the process
of changing over their server software from Microsoft to
Unix for a more secure system. They said that this change
over may take several months.
I am not aware of any other vendors that provide this
service.
Larry Greenwood
Library Director
Gordon B. Olson Library
Minot State University
500 University Ave NW
Minot, North Dakota 58707
greenwoo@misu.nodak.edu
office (701)858-3855
home (701)838-0579
fax (701)858-3581
On Wed, 12 Dec 2001, Rachael Naismith wrote:
> Please forgive cross-posting.
>
> I would appreciate feedback from librarians regarding the following theory:
>
> I suspect that if my library were to get an authentication/proxy product such as
> Obvia to replace our current practice of giving out passwords for databases (and
> e-journals) in person, by phone and by e-mail, the use of bibliographic
> databases would go up. That is, I think that some students are disuaded from
> using journal databases when they learn they must request a password, and I
> suspect that they will turn instead to the public Web or another resource.
> Often when they e-mail us for a password they must wait 12 hours for a response.
> I suspect that many don't wait.
>
> As part of a report I'm preparing to make my case, I would love to find a
> library who has used statistics prior to and subsequent to instituting an
> authentication product, or any library that is in the process of gathering such
> statistics. Any numbers would help.
>
> Thanks in advance.
>
> Rachael Naismith
> Sr. Reference Librarian
>
