[LM_NET] Hit of sorts: school use of public library cards

[Tina Hudak <tinahudak@GMAIL.COM>]

There seems to be a variety of results, and come conflicting on the use of
public library cards to access databases from the county libraries.

Some public libraries have come to the schools and support this; public
library administrators say this is a violations of licensing agreements with
the vendors.

It seems that it depends on the county, public vs. private schools using
this method of access, only using YOUR card to accesss YOUR account (not
sharing with other studnets).

My other issue is: ease of access for the students. If it is all legal they
then must remember their card, or number, navigate another library website
to get to the databases, and then, navigate the databases.

"Our state Division of Libraries negotiates the vendor contract and they
have
confirmed that using the public library card at school does violate the
contract terms - at least in Delaware."

"Our public library encourages us to tell students to learn their
library card number and use it. We are a county school system and the
library is a county system, so maybe that is why they do this."

For us who have students from multiple counties and cities, each libary
website is set up differently with a variety of databases, many not
overlapping.  In a time when students are under such pressure to "get
results" and "produce," my feeling is that I would not have the time to
teach the process, or have the public librarians come in to do this either.
A sticky wicket.


Thank you for all your responses; it has not clarified it, but then, it has
brought up many more issues to consider - which is important.

Tina Hudak
Computer Lab
St. Albans School
Washington, DC
tinahudak@gmail.com

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