Re: Memory sticks on public workstations

["Dave Fisher" <Dave@library.ucsd.edu>]

Steve,

My thanks to you - and to everyone else who has responded privately off
the Listserv.  Actually, the response from Liblicense-l has been much
greater than anticipated.  Those who've reported providing public USB port
access are not reporting any appreciable negative experiences thus far.  
That is not to say, however, that the potential for abuse doesn't exist as
device flash memory capacity continues to increase in volume and decrease
in price.  We all want to avoid creating a situation where abuse can be
detected but which can't be resolved with the offender. This could have
serious negative implications on public service and licensing issues going
forward.

David L. (Dave) Fisher                                  
Electronic Resources Coordinator   
Univ of California, San Diego Libraries   
dfisher@ucsd.edu
(858) 822-1004

>>> stoberg@tayloru.edu 07/11/04 09:37AM >>>
Dave,

There might be more responses from a different list such as Web4Lib, but,
fwiw, Taylor University implemented a thin client network about six months
ago.  Each thin client machine has four USB ports, two of which are free
to use for USB key drives (a.k.a. memory sticks, jump drives, etc. etc.).  
This is particularly noteworthy because these machines do not have a hard
drive or floppy drive.  We also have scripted access to personal network
folders (each w/50 Mb capacity)  from each machine so that students can
also save files that way.  As soon as we set these machines up, students
began using them w/key drives.  This capability has been popular.

Steve

P.S. We are using HP Compaq Thin Client t5700 (256/256) machines with
Windows XP Embedded, paired with HP Flat Panel Monitor L1730 17"  
displays.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Steve Oberg
www.taylor.edu 

On Jul 9, 2004, at 7:20 AM, Dave Fisher wrote:

> We're upgrading our public workstations soon and one of the enhancement
> requests we've received is to provide ports for users to plug their 
> memory sticks into so they can download their searches.  Has anyone else 
> provided this service yet?  This is no different than copying to a disk, 
> so I'm not sure we're breaking new ground here other than allowing users 
> to employ an advanced technology where such downloading is permissible. 
> Just wondered if anyone had any insights that we might be overlooking 
> before we charge headlong into this upgrade.
>
> Thanks!
>
> David L. (Dave) Fisher
> dfisher@ucsd.edu