Anonymous Library Cards An Option?

Ben Ostrowsky writes "On the heels of the possibility of requiring fingerprinting to use library resources, librarians don't like hoarding personally identifiable information; many are keenly aware of privacy concerns. Now it appears that anonymous library cards may be a possibility on the horizon. Tell your librarian you want to be anonymous!" From the article: " You've seen anonymous cash cards already; you may even have received them before. They're better known as gift cards. Using the same principle, libraries can issue a borrower card that uses cash, rather than personal ID information, as collateral. Here's an example: If a privacy-minded user deposits $20 to get an anonymous library card, she can check out The Terror State without identifying herself. Her account balance is temporarily reduced by $15, and when the library checks the CD back in (in good condition), her balance is restored to its original value."

Comments

Seven!

[Anonymous Coward]

Oh, great.

So, now how is Brad Pitt going to find the next serial killer to terrorise him and his wife?

So... how much to not scan my luggage?

[Bud]

If a privacy-minded user deposits $20 to get an anonymous library card, she can check out The Terror State without identifying herself. Her account balance is temporarily reduced by $15, and when the library checks the CD back in (in good condition), her balance is restored to its original value.

Borrowing The Terror State from your local library: $20

Parking your car anywhere: $50

Fast lane at the airport, bypassing extra security checks: $100k

Bypassing all important security checks: $10m

Bypassing all security checks and paying for it with American oil money: priceless.

--Bud