how to mount a external harddrive without root priviledge?

Hi:
I can sudo mount /dev/sdb1 /media/usb, but without sudo, I can not do
that? I am using debian sid with icewm windows manager. I rememer in
ubuntu gnome desktop, the external harddrive is automatically mounted
without changing to root.

Is there any way to just mout /dev/sdb1 /media/usb and to transfer
files with ordinary user priviledge?

Thanks.

Zhengquan
.