Fingerprints at the Library?

[Illbleed]

Yet another blatant attempt to take away our civil liberties. The intentions may be good but this is a violation..


http://www.chicagotribune.com/technolog ... &cset=true

[X'an Shin]

This about the Naperville Public Library using fingerprints to ID their customers? (Requires registration via email so bugmenot won't work).

It's not a violation of your civil liberties. Just don't go there to check out books.

I mean, I say this as someone whose fingerprints are in the system already: your fingerprint is only a means of identification. Same as a signature. Tighter security =/= automatic violation of civil liberties. This in no way restricts you from checking out books. Your rights to free speech and free elections and a right to a speedy trial et all have not been effected by this measure.

Relax

[Jabe Adaks]

The link is asking me to log in... So I am not sure what the article is about.

Jabe

[Keer]

Here ya go, Jabe.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nati ... &cset=true

And though I find no serious threat here, I could see how "The List" (books that the FBI have flagged for investigation tracking when checked out of the library) could be enhanced when paired with the fingerprint of the library cardholder.

But then, most of that List can be found on the internet nowadays anyway.

There is no security

:lol:

[X'an Shin]

Here ya go, Jabe.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nati ... &cset=true

Any link to a Chicago Tribune story still requires a login (I.E. that link doesn't help either).

Does anyone else see the irony in sending someone to a site which requires registration to read a story about a library requiring registration? ;)

I'm just sayin', yo.

[Illbleed]

Well, there is no chance of me checking out books there(I live in AZ). Being that I'm from Illinois, I do like to keep current from time to time. I found this article to be interesting because it's only the second library in the nation to have implemented this drastic measure. I would like to make a few points however.

1. We fingerprint criminals. I think that fingerprinting civilians to access computers or check out books is a bit excessive. How much of the taxpayers money went to impliment this solution?

2. What happens to this information? I don't care what safeguards you have in place somehow this information will be exploited. Not to say there are malicious librarians out there, but the possibility exists. Fingerprints are also very easy to duplicate and fool even electronic devices. A better concept would be to have retinal scanners. It would certainly take alot more to get an imprint of your eye than it would of your finger. Unfortunately this is not a feasible solution at the moment due to the cost. Isn't it alot easier to just have people swipe their library card?

[Keer]

Here ya go, Jabe.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nati ... &cset=true

You can bypass that login and still get the whole story. That's how I got the link. If the link leads to another login field, just ignore it, go up to the "News" clicky, then enter "Library Fingerprint" in the "Search" window.

Bam! Story without logging in.

Or Google search with the same keywords works as well.

[Skorixor]

Well, there is no chance of me checking out books there(I live in AZ). Being that I'm from Illinois, I do like to keep current from time to time. I found this article to be interesting because it's only the second library in the nation to have implemented this drastic measure. I would like to make a few points however.

1. We fingerprint criminals. I think that fingerprinting civilians to access computers or check out books is a bit excessive. How much of the taxpayers money went to impliment this solution?

2. What happens to this information? I don't care what safeguards you have in place somehow this information will be exploited. Not to say there are malicious librarians out there, but the possibility exists. Fingerprints are also very easy to duplicate and fool even electronic devices. A better concept would be to have retinal scanners. It would certainly take alot more to get an imprint of your eye than it would of your finger. Unfortunately this is not a feasible solution at the moment due to the cost. Isn't it alot easier to just have people swipe their library card?

I've been fingerprinted several times for the airlines? am i a criminal? have i ever broken any laws (ok we won't go there )? why must all my shit be xrayed several times a day, including my shoes and jacket? why must I run through a metal detector several times a day too? why must I be drug tested all the time? why eventually I myself will have to be xrayed with the new tech they have coming out, like I'm not exposed to enough rays with the instrumentation, radar, and gamma rays I encounter at high altitude?

if anyone is NOT going to plant an airplane into something, IT'S ME...yewt I'm treated WORSE than the ppl getting on the plane

because this is what society is coming to, plain and simple...you want to be safe? all this shit is coming to everywhere, sooner than later

accept it or move to a third world country...

[Illbleed]

I've been fingerprinted several times for the airlines? am i a criminal? have i ever broken any laws (ok we won't go there )? why must all my shit be xrayed several times a day, including my shoes and jacket? why must I run through a metal detector several times a day too? why must I be drug tested all the time? why eventually I myself will have to be xrayed with the new tech they have coming out, like I'm not exposed to enough rays with the instrumentation, radar, and gamma rays I encounter at high altitude?

Quite simply, you have to go through these security checks because you are responsible for the lives of the passengers on your plane and also the fact that airplanes have been shown to be weapons. Bob at the public library is not immediately responsible for anyone's life at 20,000 feet. As for the inherent risk with electronics and radiation, it comes with the territory. Didn't gamma rays turn Bruce Banner into the Hulk? lol

if anyone is NOT going to plant an airplane into something, IT'S ME...yewt I'm treated WORSE than the ppl getting on the plane

Unfortunately in the post 9/11 world paranoia has seem to be the running current often times clouding better judgement. The airlines are wanting to cover their own butt. I will agree that some of these measures are a bit extreme. However I think it's important to note that some of measures are warranted.

because this is what society is coming to, plain and simple...you want to be safe? all this shit is coming to everywhere, sooner than later

accept it or move to a third world country

I want to be safe and I do agree we live in an increasingly dangerous world. However, I don't believe in the extremist bs that is fed by the administration. Just because one prefers to have a measured response to privacy and our civil liberties does not make one un-American. I'm tired of the branding of those who don't agree with certain decisions by the administration as being un-American. It's the dawn of a new era of Mccarthyism, a new witch hunt perpetuated by fear and sensationalism in the media. America has always existed as a country tempered by checks and balances and compromises. In fact, our very government exists as such. This is still the best nation in the world and I'm proud to be an American, it doesn't mean that I don't have the right to fight for privacy and the protection of civil liberties.

[Skorixor]

oh I agree my points were extreme, lol, but it also comes down to this...

to move forward in technology, you have to start somewhere

fingerprint technology is here to stay, and retina scans are coming too (cept you can fool them with a photo of someones eye atm)

it doesn't invade your privacy...invariably you won't even carry library cards, or credit cards...you'll pay with your thumbprint...is giving your thumbprint more invasive then me looking up your name, address, phone #, credit rating, etc etc on the internet? I can already do that to you for almost free with internet searches...if I pay a few dollars more I can get you're criminal history, and much more info

they already know what you're reading from your card, what difference does a thumbprint make?

also think of it this way, let's say everyplace had fingerprint scanners...then an amber alert goes out for a guy that kidnapped his own children and is on the run...it would severely limit his options if his thumbprint would automatically set off alarms, or say escaped convicts...

it will only help once the system gets better

[Krusshyk]

Um, public school teachers are fingerprinted as well...so are police officers as far as I know. It's just a fingerprint...I don't see it as such a big deal.

Just don't leave em at the scene of a crime and I think you are doin' just dandy

[X'an Shin]

Isn't it alot easier to just have people swipe their library card?

It's a lot easier to steal library cards than it is to steal fingers.

And as for the veracity of how easy it is to fake-out a finger-print scanner:

Dude. LIBRARY. This isn't even The Library of Congress. If someone wants to come to my house and get my fingerprint off of a glass so they can go steal books or look at internet porn in my name, more power to 'em.

[X'an Shin]

Hey, look, I'm totally buying one of these and violating my own personal freedoms!!!

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp ... 9233550650

;)

[Illbleed]

Isn't it alot easier to just have people swipe their library card?

It's a lot easier to steal library cards than it is to steal fingers.

And as for the veracity of how easy it is to fake-out a finger-print scanner:

Dude. LIBRARY. This isn't even The Library of Congress. If someone wants to come to my house and get my fingerprint off of a glass so they can go steal books or look at internet porn in my name, more power to 'em.

LOL. I don't know of anyone who uses the library for internet porn though I guess it's possible =)

This one touches a nerve as I am a privacy advocate.

It's the principle of the whole thing. It's one thing to carry a piece of plastic that has my information on it. Sure, it can be stolen, but it can only be used at the library. Now, let's say that in the coming years biometrics becomes more popular(and it will), that fingerpirnt will be much more valuable--like giving out your social security number. It will be used for everything. I doubt anyone digging through my library card records will be able to find out what I buy or any personal information about me.