Information Security in Library IT Infrastructure: Balancing Safety and Accessibility in an Open Public Space

Abstract

This paper redefines information security for library IT infrastructure through the lens of balancing safety and usability. As libraries adopt cloud services, mobile devices, makerspaces, and generative AI, environments grow more complex—and exposed to breaches and unauthorized access. The distinctive mix of openness, anonymity, and user diversity makes rigid, one-size-fits-all models inadequate. The study classifies library IT into three layers—user-facing services, staff-facing systems, and foundational infrastructure and maps dilemmas in each. Findings emphasize pairing technical controls with clear responsibility, institutional safeguards, and human-centered operations. Human factors erode security more than technical flaws. Decisions on logs, filtering, cloud adoption, and AI should prioritize transparency and trust. Security becomes a design framework enabling safe use and accountable choices, requiring continuous cross-domain revision.