Reading Notes: Security and Economics

This week's readings encompassed the ideas of security, encryption, authentication, and methods of managing differing users' levels of access.  Libraries are able to manage user profiles and set pre-determined rights for access.  Public and private key encryption allows trusted allies and new business partners to exchange protected information over the web.  One of the most obvious reasons for limiting rights for access are the economic pressures which limit the number of copies a library can carry of a certain item and requests by the rights holders to withhold access, generally to protect the right holders' financial self-interests.   Journals such as D-Lib Magazine have provided models for open-access literature.  Unrefereed journals are able to provide increased access but until more top universities develop tenure systems more friendly towards these economic alternatives (and it seems they are beginning to do just this), things will probably not change greatly.   While advertisements on the web allow information producers to provide users with free access, this is not a model that libraries are likely to adopt.  Some companies have found other methods (besides technological security methods) of encouraging users to invest in their products by value-added services such as customer support.


ARMS, chapter 7
William Arms, “Implementing Policies for Access Management”, D-Lib Magazine,1998. http://www.dlib.org/dlib/february98/arms/02arms.html.
LESK, chapter 10 “economics” lesk-ch9-economics.pdf
ARMS, chapter 6, economics part http://www.cs.cornell.edu/wya/DigLib/new/Chapter6.html



READING QUESTIONS/COMMENTS:

-I am interested in more updated information about encryption and authentication technology.  How have these technologies changed in the last ten years.

-Are their digital libraries that provide information which must be protected for reasons other than financial incentives for rights holders?  In other words, do digital libraries ever deal with information that is available only to a limited number of people?

-How are medical informatics systems like digital libraries?

-Can you talk about some reason economic trends in open access?