A c t i o n f o r L i b r a r i e s — J u n e 2 0 0 5

The Internet Connection

By Michael Sauers
Portable Firefox Browser
If you're a fan of the Firefox browser, you may find yourself frustrated when using a friend's or a public- access computer that leaves you with Internet Explorer (IE) as your only browsing option. Too often you may find that IE slows you down with its lack of tabbed-browsing. Additionally, the borrowed computer doesn't have your bookmarks available. Now John Haller of Rare Ideas, LLC, has come to the rescue.

Haller created Portable Firefox. This version of the popular browser allows you to install Firefox onto a USB drive and run it from the USB drive. All you need do when you use the borrowed computer is plug in your USB drive and run your copy of Firefox.

The genius of this is that all of the settings and temp files are stored on the USB drive, writing no files to the computer's hard drive. More impressively, once you've installed Portable Firefox, you can copy your profile and extensions from your hard drive version to the proper directories on the USB drive and have full access to all of your extensions, customization and bookmarks in your portable version. (The download and full installation instructions can be found at johnhaller.com/jh/mozilla/portable_firefox/.)

As useful as this portable Web browser may be to some, you may not feel it is needed in your situation. However, if you have any involvement in the development or enforcement of library computer policy, you need to be aware of this kind of program. Take a look at your library's Internet/computer policy and look for something along the lines of "thou shall not install/ use/run any program not previously installed on library computers."

Understandably, the origins of such a policy arises from not wanting patrons installing programs on a library's public-access computers. But a program like Portable Firefox does not actually install on the computer; it runs off the individual's USB drive. It doesn't write any files to the computer at all. So, if your policy uses the word "install" there's no problem. But what if your library's policy says "run" or "use" instead? If it does, you're preventing your patrons from using a tool they may need even though it causes no harm to your library's computers.

Suggestion: Educate your staff about this new program. The last thing your library needs is a confrontation with a patron over a program that, although a staff member may not recognize it, is not violating library policy.

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