How to Setup your Public Access Catalog (kiosk)

Securing your public access catalog kiosk stations is an essential security measure for libraries. There are numerous ways to lock down or restrict access to your public accessible catalogs. For example, browsers such as Firefox have ADD-ONS to lock down the browser, such as "Public Fox". Open Kiosk is a popular open source option that many libraries are using in place of the URL exceptions list. More information on Open Kiosk can be found here: https://openkiosk.mozdevgroup.com/

In this article, we are going to show you how to create an exception list in Internet Explorer via a proxy server to restrict your users from accessing sites outside of this list. Once the proxy server is enabled; we recommend using Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox as your kiosk browser.

Setting Up Your Kiosk Public Access Catalog

Procedure for setting up your public access catalog using Internet Explorer:

1. Open the browser on the computer you want to be the Public Access Catalog. From the menu bar select Tools —< Internet Options
   1. Note: If the menu bar does not show and your using Windows 8, 7 or Vista operating system, simply hit the "alt" key and the menu bar will appear.
2. From the Internet Options dialog box click the Connections tab, then click the LAN settingsbutton.
3. Check the box under Proxy server and then click the Advanced button.
4. The Proxy Settingsdialog box will now appear
5. Add any text you want to the HTTP: and Secure: fields as demonstrated in the image, and add Port 80 for HTTP: and Port 443 for Secure.
6. The final step is to enter Exceptions that you the proxy server to ignore and thus allow the browser to access the sites you enter. For the best experience, SEO recommends inputting the following URL exceptions:

Exception List.txt

If you are wanting to use PayPal on your Kiosk; you will need to add paypal.com and paypalobjects.com

Lastly, ensure that the "Display intranet sites in Compatibility View" is unchecked in the Compatibility View Settings configuration screen within Internet Explorer under Tools:

Now that you are finished, click OK and close all remaining dialog boxes. Close your browser and then re-open your browser and test your new configuration.

Close all boxes, close your browser, then open the browser back up and test what you have configured. To ensure the library users do not bypass the proxy server exception list, you can disable the Internet Options tools menu via Group Policy. Please contact your staff IT to implement this policy setting.

Notes: 

• Set your Home page on the browser to your library catalog page.
• Once implemented; we recommend using Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox as your public catalog browser instead of Internet Explorer