Location-Based Trickery: Librarian Efforts to Provide Access to Unaffiliated Users

Abstract

Walk-in access for unaffiliated (walk-in) users in academic libraries is under threat. In North America, this is due to outdated technology as well as licensing changes publishers and vendors impose on libraries in the name of progress. We conducted a survey in autumn 2018 to get a snapshot of the current state of unaffiliated user access at post-secondary libraries across North America. We discuss the current state of access for walk-in users as well as current and future trends in user authentication which threaten this access. We look with a wider lens on open access, community access to paywalled research, and general access to information.