I am puzzled by Mr. Ryan's request for information. I hasten to point out I
have no wish to flame him or dis his request.  But I do want to make some talk
about the topic, and I think listers - including all you students out there -
should, too.

There seems a tendency among us to consider all data as equal, since to a
computer all data ARE equal.  Therefore, the line of reasoning seems to go, all
data are equally share - able.  The only danger, if we are of a suspicious
frame of mind, is possible corruption of our data by the occasional hacker or
careless user.  However, I am not a computer.  I am a human, and I work (I
think) for the public in the present and in a future which will extend far
beyond my life span.

We attempt to keep our collections data close, allowing little insecure (so far
as we know) access. When I entered museum work in the seventies, cheap (free
for employees) xerographic copying was all the rage; opportunities for data
leakage on paper were considered dangerous, and potential for leakage via the
new electronic data storage devices were worrisome. Insecure data were viewed
as potential shopping lists for industrious thieves.  I continue thinking this
way and acting out my thinking.  However, I have begun to understand that some
colleagues may consider my point of view as old fashioned or extreme.  Yet our
greatest sorrow as professionals is that sometimes our friends, with whom we
are most anxious to exchange data, have proved to be fifth columnists of the
worst sort.

(I read what I have written and realize it may appear paranoid to many in the
field, but...) I cannot see any hope for collections physical security unless
we attempt to ensure collections data security.

Perhaps this is an extreme point of view.  Let's talk.

John A. Scafidi
Florida State Parks
Tallahassee, FL
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