Brewer, Week 11, Due March 20, 2012

1.       Public Access Technologies in Public Libraries:  Effects and Implications, by Bertot

This article addresses affects PAT had on public libraries via survey by way of interviews in 35 various states.  The survey utilized a good variety in states covering the West, Southwest, Southeast and Mid Atlantic regions, a good scale of a few hundred to half a million in population and communities were covered well in poverty, race, income, age, employment and education demographics.  In addition comparisons between state and public libraries were provided.  I feel this survey was planned well and a great amount of effort was put forth by the researcher and many library staff as in person visits ranged from 4-6 hours.  Many statistics were provided from the beginning of WWW to 2008 and it was evident internet connectivity in public libraries grew drastic from 1994 to about 2000 and has leveled off through 2008.  The number of workstations in public libraries grew from 1996 to 2002 and leveled to 2007 and seemed to be growing at significant rate from 2007 to 2008. Much of the same strains on libraries we have studied were found such as staff, finances and facility issues along with maintenance and management of technology.  The article made similar points as the other articles in common services provided and changing roles…but a new trend appeared this week…how patrons almost feel as they own the equipment and their expectations are geared toward “custom” not as though for the full public.

2.       Sex in the City

This article illustrates how the Minneapolis Public Library experienced a drastic misuse of their computers for pornographic pleasure…with a core group of about 3 dozen on a regular basis who went to great lengths to make other patrons and staff uncomfortable.  Staff members finally grew tired of the inability to address the issue due to the standard of being a public dwelling and after many patron complaints finally filed a complaint with the EEOC…finally gaining some strength due to a local TV station.  Support in the community was pretty strong, but fellow library staff in other states were not all nearly as supportive. After getting a temporary policy within 24 hours of filing and the TV special….25 regular users left the library.  This issue is still up in the air as the library refused to mediate..and case sits in hands of Department of Justice.  I found bizarre nobody could determine why this city had such an unusual situation with such a group of size and extreme practices.

3.       Please Disable the Entire Filter, Why Non-Removable Filters on Public Library Computers Violate The First Amendment, by Anten

This article focused on a particular case in Phoenix, AZ where after community expression of displeasure created a new policy requiring filters to be on all computers.  This became a legal issue and determined to interfere with the First Amendment and Freedon of speech.  Many other cases  are also shared on this topic showing rulings and reversals.

4.       One Law with Two Outcomes, by Jaefer and Zheng

This is providing information about CIPA, Children’s Internet Protection Act and the balance between Public Libraries and Public Schools.  Personally I feel important to both…but there is more emphasis in the schools as a larger number of children 17 and under are involved and for a greater number of hours per day.  Parents are not allowed to be at school and can’t monitor….while in the library parents do have the ability with younger children, although that gets tricky for teens who were shown to be the greatest abusers. Of particular focus was obscene material, content/child pornography and harmful to minors.

5.       Studying Indiana Usage of Internet Filters, by Comer

Another survey pertaining to filters on computers particularly in Indiana and how handled.  This was all over the place, but libraries that wanted to receive federal funding are required to abide by CIPA standards in having filters to protect children 17 and under.  The article also shared what worked good and the types of problems that have been found with various vendor filters.  A sheet of vendors/filters available was provided which was very useful.  And last…there were some libraries that felt the filtering of their staff was adequate.

Ok, here is my opinion….I fully believe in Freedom of Speech while at the same time I feel you have to have some control on public computers not only for under age 17, but other patrons using the facility.  As many amendments as are written such as for corporations to get around laws…I feel we can find a good common ground to address this.  I can’t help but feel that most people doing research have to have access to computers especially if they are doing more sensitive work as the Kinsey Institute.  I also feel a good library should be able to determine true justified research needs.  I guess I am a bit old fashioned in the sense pornographic urges should be in the privacy of ones home…and if they do not have that access…it might be an issue to be addressed somewhere else than a PUBLIC library.