Students now must use their UCSB NetID to gain access to Davidson and Arts Library computers.
John Clow/Daily Nexus

Starting this weekend, computers in Davidson Library and the Arts Library will require users to enter their UCSB NetID and password to gain computer access.

The process of authentication was made in order to provide faculty, staff and students greater capability to gain access to computers. Guests and individuals without a UCSB NetID will be able to use a temporary login and password by showing a government-issued identification card at the circulation desk located in both libraries, according to a statement from the university.

According to Associate Unviersity Librarian Gary Johnson, allowing guests to use the library while requiring students to use a log-in is not exclusive to UCSB.
“This is a standard method that many universities use,” Johnson said. “We wanted to give prioritized access to students while still including the community at large by using a simple and familiar log-in method for the community.”

Johnson said that while authentication will also link students’ log-in to their information in the student directory, students will not be tracked.
“When you log-in, it validates credentials found in the student directory,” Johnson said. “I would like students to know there is no tracking involved. The Internet session is cleared out after you are finished on the computer.”

According to alumna and recent graduate Ananda Tomas, the new authentication process seems unnecessary.

“[The restrictions] are ridiculous because it is obvious that the UCSB’s Library is a hub not just for students, but for people living around the area,” Tomas said.

However, first-year global studies major Kelli Kaesberg said she appreciates the new rule because it gives students better chances at finding available open computers.

“It makes sense that you have to use your NetID and password,” Kaesberg said. “We have to do that to log into the internet anyways.”
Kaesberg also said she thinks guests can be permitted to use the library, but that it can become problematic if guests use all university resources at the detriment of students.

“Guests at the library are okay, but I do pay to go to school here so it would be bad if people got to use whatever facilities they wanted to,” Kaesberg said.

In order to maintain library access for the community, seven computers in Davidson Library and two computers in the Arts Library will be open-access to the
public. These computers will not require authentication to conduct research and view the Library catalog and databases, according to the announcement.

A version of this story appeared on page 6 of the Thursday,  October 16, 2014 print edition of the Daily Nexus.