While I like the idea of a Linux kiosk, what might be easiest, as I'm betting all the computers there already have XP on them, is that they could be set to kiosk mode in XP, with only a browser available... nothing else, you can make them essential as locked down as needed, so that the user has to hit the power button to reboot...
At the company I work at, we end up setting these up every year for public use for a conference, and they work ok... Depending on how locked down you make them, you will still have the occasional complaint, but they work pretty well. Set automatic updates, and the machines should mostly take care of themselves, if there is a problem, power off and back on:)
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While I like the idea of a Linux kiosk, what might be easiest, as I'm betting all the computers there already have XP on them, is that they could be set to kiosk mode in XP, with only a browser available... nothing else, you can make them essential as locked down as needed, so that the user has to hit the power button to reboot... At the company I work at, we end up setting these up every year for public use for a conference, and they work ok... Depending on how locked down you make them, you will still have the occasional complaint, but they work pretty well. Set automatic updates, and the machines should mostly take care of themselves, if there is a problem, power off and back on :)