Video Surveillance in Public Libraries: A Case of Unintended Consequences?

Newell, Bryce Clayton; Randall, David P.

doi:10.1109/hicss.2013.595

Cited by 4 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 12 publications

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“…Such researches include that of (Moswela 2010 Urhiewhu et al 2018). These researches focused on academic libraries with only one focusing on public libraries (Newell et al 2013) which was done in American and does not make part of the African perspective, Namibia included. Moswela (2010) study which was done in Botswana was based on book security in school libraries.…”

Section: Statement Of the Problemmentioning

confidence: 99%

Prevention of Library Collection Security Breaches in Ohangwena and Oshana Regional Libraries, Namibia

-¹,

-²

2022

IJFMR

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This paper focused on the prevention of library collection security breaches in Ohangwena and Oshana Regional Libraries. A qualitative research design was employed and a case study strategy was adopted for the study. The population consisted of 12 staff members from Ohangwena and Oshana Regional Library who were selected through purposive sampling. Data was collected through telephone interviews and presented qualitatively in form of descriptive narratives. The study revealed that most of staff members working in these libraries held qualifications which were not related to librarianship. The findings revealed that over borrowing of books, theft and vandalism of library collection were very common in these libraries and occurred on a weekly basis. Further findings showed that measures such as the use of 3M library security system, CCTV, security personnel and lockers to keep users’ bags were in place to address security issues. Penalties such as replacement of lost or damaged items, suspension of offenders, fines for over borrowing were imposed upon users in these libraries. A major recommendation was that libraries should formulate national policies and guidelines to guide library staff on how to handle security breaches. Additionally, the government should recognize theft and vandalism of library materials as a crime because currently, users tend to commit these ill-acts since no criminal case is opened against them.

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Section: Statement Of the Problemmentioning

confidence: 99%

Prevention of Library Collection Security Breaches in Ohangwena and Oshana Regional Libraries, Namibia

-¹,

-²

2022

IJFMR

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“…Similarly, analysis of Scottish public library AUPs by Gallagher et al found that 91% mentioned that physical or electronic monitoring was in place (Gallagher, Mcmenemy, and Poulter 2015). Public libraries also use surveillance cameras for monitoring (Newell and Randall 2013).…”

Section: Surveillancementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Allowing unimpeded access to the Internet may be in the best interests of information provision, but the monitoring of such access may help to prevent crime. Indeed, Newell and Randall found that surveillance cameras were being installed in some public libraries as a direct response to concerns by the library staff (Newell and Randall 2013). The American Library Association (ALA) states however, that monitoring duties is not in the librarian's remit, and is the ethical responsibility of the parents (Wyatt 2006).…”

Section: Surveillancementioning

confidence: 99%

Communicating Patron Rights and Responsibilities Transparently: Creating a Model Internet Acceptable Use Policy for UK Public Libraries

Robinson

McMenemy

2021

Public Library Quarterly

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Facilitating access to the Internet is an important part of the public library mission, and is crucial in ensuring that all citizens have the possibility of access to contemporary digital information and public services. Part of managing this access relies on the Acceptable Use Policy (AUP), an agreement between the library and the user regarding the conditions of access. This article reports on a national UK study of public library AUPs and the development of a new national model policy for public libraries, and which can be considered as 'best practice'. The article reports analysis of AUPs across the UK, with specific focus on how they communicate the use of filtering, and surveillance. This research adds new insight by studying the content of AUPs and contributes to the limited research that exists on public library AUPs in the UK. The research analyzed AUPs from 205 authorities in the UK, a return rate of 99.5%. The resulting conclusions and synthesis of relevant guidance on AUPs led to the formation of the model policy presented in this article.

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“…Surveillance has also been framed as an appropriate subject for research within the fields of critical information studies (Carter et al, 2021) and crisis informatics (Reynolds et al, 2022). Likewise, library and information science literature has examined surveillance practices in a variety of contexts, including in the work of libraries (Fortier & Burkell, 2015; Gallagher et al, 2015; Newell & Randall, 2013a, 2013b; Randall & Newell, 2014; Tummon & McKinnon, 2018; Zimmer, 2014), in connection with labor and as a tool for behavioral control (Floegel, 2021), as a prevalent theme in LIS journals (Dewey, 2020), as embedded within commercial scholarly communication platforms (S. A. Moore, 2021), as closely linked to documentation practices (Kosciejew, 2015), as an important ethical consideration that should be taken into account when conducting research (Barriage & Hicks, 2020), and in relation to the emergence of the broader information society (Weller & Bawden, 2005). Researchers have also used surveillance records as objects of study within archival studies (Carbone, 2020).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Surveillance as information practice

Newell

2023

Asso for Info Science & Tech

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Surveillance, as a concept and social practice, is inextricably linked to information. It is, at its core, about information extraction and analysis conducted for some regulatory purpose. Yet, information science research only sporadically leverages surveillance studies scholarship, and we see a lack of sustained and focused attention to surveillance as an object of research within the domains of information behavior and social informatics. Surveillance, as a range of contextual and culturally based social practices defined by their connections to information seeking and use, should be framed as information practice—as that term is used within information behavior scholarship. Similarly, manifestations of surveillance in society are frequently perfect examples of information and communications technologies situated within everyday social and organizational structures—the very focus of social informatics research. The technological infrastructures and material artifacts of surveillance practice—surveillance technologies—can also be viewed as information tools. Framing surveillance as information practice and conceptualizing surveillance technologies as socially and contextually situated information tools can provide space for new avenues of research within the information sciences, especially within information disciplines that focus their attention on the social aspects of information and information technologies in society.

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Video Surveillance in Public Libraries: A Case of Unintended Consequences?

Cited by 4 publications

References 12 publications

Prevention of Library Collection Security Breaches in Ohangwena and Oshana Regional Libraries, Namibia

Prevention of Library Collection Security Breaches in Ohangwena and Oshana Regional Libraries, Namibia

Communicating Patron Rights and Responsibilities Transparently: Creating a Model Internet Acceptable Use Policy for UK Public Libraries

Surveillance as information practice

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