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iPods, iTunes, and Limewire
iPods, iTunes, and Limewire
12:07 PM EST 2/10/06
Do any of you have public access machines with iTunes installed? Limewire installed?

Brenda
Re: iPods, iTunes, and Limewire
12:57 PM EDT 9/26/06 as a reply to Brenda Hough.
I noticed this message before and that you never got a reply. Better late than never.

I wouldn't install or encourage the use of iTunes or Limewire on public access machines. iTunes has several purposes to: organize music files and download podcasts and purchased music from the iTunes music store. None of which seems an appropriate use for a library's public access computer. While it might be nice to offer downloaded podcasts for people to load onto their MP3 player, you couldn't control which podcasts were subscribed to. New podcasts are automatically downloaded for each subscription every time iTunes is opened. It could get out of hand really quickly.

Limewire is P2P (Peer to Peer) software. There are all kinds of issues with P2P including copyright infringement, adult content, spyware, viruses. While it might seem like a nice service to offer, I think the potential problems outweigh the benefits.
Re: iPods, iTunes, and Limewire
3:59 PM EDT 9/27/06 as a reply to Suzanne Reymer.
Thanks for sharing your experience! It sounds like you have very valid concerns.

iPods are everywhere! So what is the balance between trying to meet the patrons where they are with the technology they want to use and trying to maintain security and legality at the library?

I'm sure Suzanne isn't the only one who's encountered this dilemma. Who else has experience with this?
Re: iPods, iTunes, and Limewire
9:14 PM EST 10/30/06 as a reply to Brenda Hough.
It seems like the copyright problems and peer to peer sharing make limewire a bad idea.

That being said - iTunes that you wipe between users would seem to be legitimate when there are several educational podcasts now available on iTunes. The biggest issues would be individuals who purchase music and if that music stays on a machine that someone else could get at.