The access management problem

Managing access to on-line information is a broad problem, which occurs in a wide range of different applications. Managers of on-line information wish to implement policies about who can access the information, under what terms and conditions. 

Examples of areas where access management is needed include the following:

Digital libraries

 

Libraries often need to restrict access to parts of their collections for various reasons, including restrictions imposed by donors, concerns about privacy or obscenity, licensing arrangements, and other agreements with copyright owners.

 

Electronic publications

 

The most common reason that publishers and other copyright owners wish to manage access is because they require payment for use of materials, but there are other reasons, such as preventing the spread of unapproved derivatives.

 

Security, classification, and trade secrets

 

Governments sometimes classify information in order to control access for security reasons. Commercial organizations use similar methods to protect confidential information and trade secrets.

 

Medical records

 

Medical information is usually kept confidential, except to people who can demonstrate that they have a need to know.

 The various application areas use different terminology to describe the questions of controlling access to on-line information. In publishing, the term "rights management" is often used, but this term is very narrow in scope. The phrase "terms and conditions" is also widely used. The term "access management"  is a broad term that applies in all areas.

Independent of terminology, it is important to view access management from the perspective of the manager of the information. In a digital library, information is obtained from a variety of sources, for example by license from a publisher, or by a donation with restrictions on use. In drawing up its access management policies, the library will reflect agreements with publishers and other third parties. There may also be relevant laws that must be embodied in the policies. However, with digital materials as with physical items, the library is responsible for managing access to its collections.

Access management has been a topic of digital library research for several years. The general area was a theme of CNRI's work for the Computer Science Technical Reports project.  An updated version of these concepts is included in a recent paper from the Cross-Industry Working Team. Another overview of the field is the report of the National Science Foundation workshop, in March 1996.

POSTED BY :- 

SHWETA RANI

PGDM-3rd SEM