“Through the looking glass: envisioning new library technologies” securing your digital library with encryption

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to provide context for understanding why encryption is important and provide some examples of applications designed to make it easier than ever to control who has access to the information transmitted by the technology used.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper provides an overview of the topic.

Findings

It is important for libraries to take an active role in understanding the encryption technology being provided to their patrons and used by their staff. It can be easily assumed that information held by these technologies is secure in ways that it is not.

Originality/value

Information that is transmitted online is almost always done so in a way that can be easily intercepted. The easiest way to keep it secure is not to avoid having it be intercepted, but to encrypt it so that it is unintelligible when it is intercepted.

Citation

Fernandez, P. (2015), "“Through the looking glass: envisioning new library technologies” securing your digital library with encryption", Library Hi Tech News, Vol. 32 No. 1, pp. 5-7. https://doi.org/10.1108/LHTN-12-2014-0106