Week 3: Security

Foster Public Library in Victoria recently introduced 24/7 unstaffed library access to participating patrons using a swipe key to enter the building (Maunder, 2019). Members are required to undertake a health and safety induction, as well as training that enables them to check out items unassisted (Maunder, 2019). However, while this service provides flexibility and convenience to the patrons who require afterhours access, there are a number of security implications for the library. Libraries that implement unsupervised access increase their risk of collection damage, crime, unauthorised access and liabilities resulting from emergencies and disasters. This service runs the risk of collection items being damaged, lost or stolen (either purposely or inadvertently) due to human or system error during the checkout process. In fact, even staffed 24/7 libraries face security implications with concerns about crime, emergencies and the safety of their collections, facilities and patrons (Sewell, 2013, p.17).

While the presence of security cameras (Maunder, 2019) may mitigate the risk of intentional theft/vandalism, or at the very least help identify a perpetrator, these measures do not stop unlawful behaviour or access. For instance, one patron could swipe their card and hold the door open for others to enter. Those who enter without swiping their card are unauthorised to enter the building, regardless of whether they are participating members or not. This also makes it impossible for the library to track user activity as there are no digital records of these patrons entering the library.

References

Maunder, S. (2019, December 20). First library in Victoria to open 24 hours a day, seven days a week has town buzzing. ABC Gippsland. Retrieved from https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-12-27/foster-library-first-in-victoria-to-open-24-hours-a-day/11777696

Sewell, B. B. (2013). 24-Hour Access: Responding to Students’ Need for Late Library Hours at the University of Denver. Journal of Access Services, 10(1), 14–27. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1080/15367967.2013.738390

Image Attribution

Bernard Hermant, ‘Black and white wall sconce’, CC0 Licence (https://unsplash.com/license), Image Source: Unsplash (https://unsplash.com/photos/Hd0m_5-OyCw)