That would work if both (or all) library systems shared access to the
same online resources equally.

Or I suppose one could have a system of automatic forwarding/
authentication based on id?  That would be cool, but I wonder how
hard would it be to implement?

Here in Florida, the State Library provides state-wide access to a
lot of online resources.  Some libraries have more, based on their
own subscriptions, but access to the basic level provided by the
State Library is free for everyone who has a library card.  Not
exactly the same idea, but it is an example of an overarching agency
providing more or less seamless access.

Carol Bean

On Mar 22, 2007, at 10:09 PM, William Denton wrote:

> I hadn't been too clear on OpenID but a week or two ago I listened
> to a
> recording of a talk about that explained it well.  I can't find it
> again,
> unfortunately, but you can take my word for it that it was pretty
> good.
>
> Is OpenID being used in libraries?  It struck me that it could work
> well
> for library systems that share resources: two systems that are part
> of the
> same consortium or provincial/state system; two neighbouring public
> systems that let people from one borrow at the other; academic
> libraries
> that want to make it easy for visiting profs and grad students to get
> temporary access to online resources; etc.
>
> Say I live in Lower Mowat but one day I'm in Upper Mowat, in the next
> municipality (or county, or whatever) over, visiting my tailor.
> The two
> library systems are separate but share their resources.  I pop into
> the
> library to update my Twittering friends on my inseam measurement.
> I don't
> actually have an account at the Upper Mowat Library, but I log in
> to one
> of their computers using my Lower Mowat-supplied OpenID identifier,
> and
> the Upper Mowat system recognizes where I'm from and gives me
> access to
> everything.
>
> Bill
> --
> William Denton, Toronto : miskatonic.org : frbr.org : openfrbr.org