[263] in Public-Access_Computer_Systems_Forum
Summary: Shareware Library
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Doug Taylor, Houston Cole Library)
Fri May 15 13:44:21 1992
Date: Fri, 15 May 1992 11:40:03 CDT
Reply-To: Public-Access Computer Systems Forum <PACS-L%UHUPVM1.BITNET@RICEVM1.RICE.EDU>
From: "Doug Taylor, Houston Cole Library" <FDT1%JSUMUS.BITNET@RICEVM1.RICE.EDU>
To: Multiple recipients of list PACS-L <PACS-L@UHUPVM1.BITNET>
----------------------------Original message----------------------------
I received over half a dozen responses to my question regarding
setting up a Shareware/Freeware Library. I was particularly
concerned about security for the disk(s) and how people keep
their hard drives clean of these programs.
First, Security.
The majority agreed that there was a need of some kind to secure
the cd-roms. Some of the suggestions were:
-sign the cd's out at the Reference or Circulation desks.
-use locks and straps to secure the cd in the rom reader.
-buy cd-rom drives that have locks already installed.
-use a server arrangement with a single pc holding the rom and
a bunch of floppy only ones for browsing the index with the
capability of ftp'ing or kermiting the files.
There was another person who discussed the network server arrangement
as above. They mentioned that network licence charges are, in some
cases, too expensive. They opted for a dedicated workstation with
a cd-player that locked.
-Another mentioned the availability of PC-SIG disks on the Simtel20
sites. That it might be simpler to allow terminal access to these
sites.
Second concern, copying programs on to the hard drive.
There were a number of concerns here. Some indicated that they didn't
allow copying of files because of viruses. (Yeah, this confused me
also. What's the point of setting up a Shareware/Freeware Library if
you don't allow copying???)
Others mentioned that they have developed programs that kept people
from copying on to the hard disk. These programs apparently would
copy to the 'A' drive only. (Apparently, this is easier to do with
p.c.'s then with Mac's. There was a short discussion of the difficulty
of keeping people from copying on to the hard disk when using a Mac.)
The general consensus was that "people that use these cd-roms to obtain
shareware almost by definition have the skills, if not the inclination,
to 'mess' with the system". Though, I did get one response, that
apparently have left their cd-roms out and available and have had no
thefts over the years.
Thanks to all of you that have responded either personally or on the
Pacs-L list. I am not sure how we will be handling it here but all
of your suggestions have added some light to our problem. Thanks
again.
Doug Taylor
Houston Cole Library
Jacksonville State University
Jacksonville, Alabama 36265
fdt1@jsumus
jsudmt01@asnjsu.asn.net
