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Access control, payment, and smart cards in libraries

par Vandooren, Françoise
Référence New review of information networking, 4, page (189-205)
Publication Publié, 1998

Article révisé par les pairs

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Résumé :

As networked information services on the Internet continue to grow, so the problem for libraries of controlling access and management of these services increases. There are three problem areas for libraries: • computer security with regard to open networks: confidentiality, identification and authentication, and document integrity • authorisation: who is authorised to do what on which resources? • cost recovery: libraries will need to develop cost recovery charging mechanisms as the amount of electronic information increases and the costs of electronic licences rise. Current approaches to networked access to electronic information sources favour user direct access and payment, or institutional site licences. Both methods involve multiple connections and interfaces. The former also requires multiple registration procedures and different payment systems while the latter provides no cost-recovery mechanism for libraries. Moreover both approaches give rise to inflation in information prices. Against this background, smart cards are being introduced in libraries as means of controlling user identity and of electronic payment. But current applications in libraries of campus cards and of public payment cards do not yet integrate all the functionalities required by libraries. The TOLIMAC project aims to meet libraries' requirements in terms of user authentication, authorisation, secure communication and charging mechanism. It has developed a smart card-based management system of networked information services for libraries, providing access control and payment mechanisms. These new functionalities enable libraries to agree a new type of institutional contract with providers, based on actual use of their services. By placing libraries as key intermediaries between users and providers, the TOLIMAC system sets a new electronic information management concept for access control and charging functions.