With digital technology libraries can archive considerable resources of detailed information about their users. This data is generally regarded as confidential between the library and the individual, but it has potential interest for commercial organisations, law enforcement and security agencies, and libraries themselves, to assist in marketing their services. The Privacy in the Digital Library Environment project at Loughborough University, 2000‐2002, investigated the issues this raises. Findings suggested that users had low levels of anxiety about privacy when using libraries, but this was because they expected that libraries would not pass on personal data to other bodies. Librarians, whilst respecting privacy as a professional value in principle, did not give it a high rating against other values. Additionally, a significant minority of libraries was not well prepared for data protection. To assist the professional community, guidelines for privacy policy were drawn up on the basis of suggestions made by survey respondents.
Digital games are major part of popular culture. They are also an important part of the history of play and as such they deserve to take their rightful place in our cultural legacy. However, they have received little attention in the academic literature on preservation. Despite this lack of interest, some institutions have recognized the significance of preventing the loss of these valuable materials but to what extent is their longevity ensured? What is the current status of game preservation? What are the challenges facing institutions as they ‘‘play games with cultural heritage?’’ This article provides an overview of the current state of play and, using a comparative case study analysis, provides an insight into the issues, which lie ahead.
This article reports on a study which aimed to investigate the potential for portable electronic book (e-book) devices within a public library context. The main method of data collection was a questionnaire distributed to all readers who borrowed a device during the project. Results are discussed in terms of (a) the users' reaction to the device and the process of reading from it, and (b) the institutional considerations encountered by the collaborating librarians. It is not clear from the outcomes that portable e-books provide a viable delivery mechanism within a public library.
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