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