An announcement from ReferenceUSA to its Customers:
Due to automated "theft" of data, ReferenceUSA will be changing its access routines on December 1, 2003.
This means the library’s remote users (i.e. – those users not physically in the library; and, incidentally, if your library doesn’t offer the remote option this discussion won’t apply to your library) will be given a code when they view their first results screen. They will then have to enter this code to move on to their next results screen, and a new code for each additional screen they view.
The remote user will still be able to access all of the data retrieved from their search as they have been doing; however, it simply means they will have to enter a different code for each additional screen they view. Please note too, this requirement will only be seen by the library’s remote users (if your library has the remote option); those accessing our data in the library will not see this step.
The full letter from ReferenceUSA is below:
Dear ReferenceUSA Customer:
We would like to make you aware of two issues pertaining to our ReferenceUSA on-line database, and are asking for your assistance and understanding with them. As such, any comments and/or assistance you would care to offer us are most appreciated.
The first issue concerns the theft of our data by automated means. As you know, we most certainly permit the printing and downloading of the data found in ReferenceUSA; however, they are limited to a given number of records depending on the access point (i.e. – if it is done within the library, or from a remote site outside the library’s walls).
Unfortunately, we have been experiencing an increasing number of downloads using automated technology. The technical term we use is “scraping.” We are experiencing this from library sites nationwide, and it results in the downloading of hundreds of thousands of records in a very short period of time. Libraries offering ReferenceUSA are identified by these individuals, and then used as gateways for their automated methods to access and download the data. As I’m sure you can understand, it is imperative we protect our database from this type of theft.
The only solution we now see is to thwart this access to our data by automated means. This means the library’s remote users (i.e. – those users not physically in the library; and, incidentally, if your library doesn’t offer the remote option this discussion won’t apply to your library) will be given a code when they view their first results screen. They will then have to enter this code to move on to their next results screen, and a new code for each additional screen they view.
The remote user will still be able to access all of the data retrieved from their search as they have been doing; however, it simply means they will have to enter a different code for each additional screen they view. Please note too, this requirement will only be seen by the library’s remote users (if your library has the remote option); those accessing our data in the library will not see this step.
This solution may be familiar to many library users as it is currently used by some companies (such as ticket sellers) when consumers make purchases through their Internet sites. The code requirement prevents the automated (“scraping”) retrieval of data because it requires human intervention to view and enter/give-back the specific code.
We will be implementing this solution on all remote access accounts on December 1, 2003 and wanted to make you aware of it before then. Please make others in your library aware of this modification to the data retrieval.
The second issue we face is the implementation of the new federal law pertaining to residential “Do Not Call” requirements.
To comply with these laws, we have made some minor modifications to the “Terms and Conditions” section that has been visible on the site since the ReferenceUSA database was first offered to libraries. We strive to keep you informed of any changes to the product; hence, the mention of it here.
Thank you very much for your understanding of these issues. Please don’t hesitate to contact me and/or your account representative if you have any questions, and/or would care to discuss any of this. We sincerely appreciate you and your library supporting ReferenceUSA, and look forward to working with you to make it even better as we move forward.
Sincerely,
Jean Ann Hastings
Subscription Manager
reference@infousa.com
