Comments on: Internet filtering in public libraries http://librariesinteract.info/2007/06/08/internet-filtering-in-public-libraries/ Blog central for Australasian Libraries Wed, 18 Jan 2012 22:23:50 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Internet Filtering on Unleashed | Libraries Interact http://librariesinteract.info/2007/06/08/internet-filtering-in-public-libraries/comment-page-1/#comment-31914 Internet Filtering on Unleashed | Libraries Interact Mon, 28 Apr 2008 04:04:51 +0000 http://librariesinteract.info/2007/06/08/internet-filtering-in-public-libraries/#comment-31914 [...] Saunders. It presents an interesting way at looking at issues that we’ve posted about before [1] [2] [3] [4]. From the post: Enjoy your unfiltered internet access while it lasts. As we speak, the [...] [...] Saunders. It presents an interesting way at looking at issues that we’ve posted about before [1] [2] [3] [4]. From the post: Enjoy your unfiltered internet access while it lasts. As we speak, the [...]

]]> By: Tom Goodfellow http://librariesinteract.info/2007/06/08/internet-filtering-in-public-libraries/comment-page-1/#comment-19212 Tom Goodfellow Tue, 12 Jun 2007 05:18:30 +0000 http://librariesinteract.info/2007/06/08/internet-filtering-in-public-libraries/#comment-19212 Isn't safe practice on the internet something that schools should be doing, rather than public libraries? Public libraries will always miss some people. Of course, schools could tap into the expertise of local librarians to present such information. As for filtering, I work in an academic library that blocks all the obvious stuff (which can cause issues for research into $exual health), as well as YouTube - I find the YouTube thing very irritating but apparently it's a bandwidth issue. Isn’t safe practice on the internet something that schools should be doing, rather than public libraries? Public libraries will always miss some people. Of course, schools could tap into the expertise of local librarians to present such information.

As for filtering, I work in an academic library that blocks all the obvious stuff (which can cause issues for research into $exual health), as well as YouTube – I find the YouTube thing very irritating but apparently it’s a bandwidth issue.

]]> By: Andrew F http://librariesinteract.info/2007/06/08/internet-filtering-in-public-libraries/comment-page-1/#comment-19031 Andrew F Fri, 08 Jun 2007 11:08:38 +0000 http://librariesinteract.info/2007/06/08/internet-filtering-in-public-libraries/#comment-19031 Yes, librarians should be doing more to educate users about safe internet access. However, I don't think that public libraries are in a position to do this at the moment. Public libraries just don't have the branding of being leaders in the usability of online information, even if they should be. For starters, the average person who has come in off the street to use the internet is going to ask for advise on evaluating online media and using websites safely. Not long ago, one of the local public libraries hosted a NetAlert session for parents. The turnout was extremely poor, despite wide publicity. I've found that the only way of educating users on safe internet use is by embedding it into information literacy courses for users (ie. "Learn to set up a blog"), and even then you're only really reaching the people who take an interest and participate. One system that I have seen, which seems to cover all bases, is a system that doesn't block sites, but does however alert the user with a "This page that you're accessing may contain offensive material". Of course, this message pops up in inappropriate places (ie. doing a search on wikipedia), but it does act in the filtering role without actively censoring material (even if it is a little irritating). Yes, librarians should be doing more to educate users about safe internet access.

However, I don’t think that public libraries are in a position to do this at the moment. Public libraries just don’t have the branding of being leaders in the usability of online information, even if they should be.

For starters, the average person who has come in off the street to use the internet is going to ask for advise on evaluating online media and using websites safely.

Not long ago, one of the local public libraries hosted a NetAlert session for parents. The turnout was extremely poor, despite wide publicity.

I’ve found that the only way of educating users on safe internet use is by embedding it into information literacy courses for users (ie. “Learn to set up a blog”), and even then you’re only really reaching the people who take an interest and participate.

One system that I have seen, which seems to cover all bases, is a system that doesn’t block sites, but does however alert the user with a “This page that you’re accessing may contain offensive material”. Of course, this message pops up in inappropriate places (ie. doing a search on wikipedia), but it does act in the filtering role without actively censoring material (even if it is a little irritating).

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