[NIFL-TECHNOLOGY:2679] Re: NY Times: What Would Dewey Do? Libraries Grapple With Internet

From: Barb Sabaj (bjteach@ameritech.net)
Date: Mon Dec 02 2002 - 11:11:48 EST


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From: "Barb Sabaj" <bjteach@ameritech.net>
To: Multiple recipients of list <nifl-technology@literacy.nifl.gov>
Subject: [NIFL-TECHNOLOGY:2679] Re: NY Times: What Would Dewey Do? Libraries Grapple With Internet
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In the CAI Lab we have at a shopping center, there is no censorship, but
there are only adults using the systems.
During seminars conducted in other places, I have encountered labs that have
blocks (Community College systems) and it is difficult to work in that
environment.  Many sites that are blocked are not really offensive, but the
system filters put in place by the IT department stop almost any site from
being accessed.

When it comes to adults, I do not believe in censorship.  I only impress on
the adult learners that they cannot  do anything illegal (Child porn, etc.),
and that they cannot impress their beliefs on other members of the group nor
expose other members to their sites.  No Favorites places set on the
machines.
The machines in our Center are mainly used for educational purposes and
accessing learner e-mail.  There is little time for just browsing the Net.

Barbara Sabaj
District 214 Community Education
bjteach@ameritech.net
----- Original Message -----
From: "Jeff Carter" <jcarter@WORLDED.ORG>
To: "Multiple recipients of list" <nifl-technology@literacy.nifl.gov>
Sent: Monday, December 02, 2002 8:25 AM
Subject: [NIFL-TECHNOLOGY:2677] NY Times: What Would Dewey Do? Libraries
Grapple With Internet


>
> Today's Times reports on how libraries are struggling to balance their
> mission to provide patrons access to information against the First
> Amendment rights of library patrons.
>
> <http://www.nytimes.com/2002/12/02/national/02LIBR.html?todaysheadlines>
>
> I'm always wondering how big of an issue this is in adult education
> programs, especially in library literacy programs. Do you ever have a
> problem with clients accessing potentially inappropriate sites? Do
> clients get offended by sites others are accessing? Do you have
> appropriate use guidelines?
>
> My (limited) experience is that programs generally do not have
> guidelines on appropriate use of the computers/Internet in their
> programs. Is that true? Programs situated in K-12 settings sometimes
> adopt (or are told they are held to) the same guidelines/rules as the
> K-12 students, although I wonder whether rules devised for children
> make sense for adult students.
>
> Another question -- if you work in a public school setting or library
> literacy program, in particular, do you encounter problems due to
> filtering software (software that attempts to block potentially
> offensive sites)? (The Children's Internet Protection Act requires
> public schools and libraries receiving federal money for Internet
> access to block all access to "obscene" material and to block
> children's access to graphic material.)
>
> I'd be really interested in hearing from people on this issue, either
> on the list or off-list.
>
> Jeff
>
>
> Jeff Carter
> World Education
> Boston, MA
> (617) 482-9485
> --------------
> e-mail: jcarter@worlded.org
> <http://literacytech.worlded.org>
> <http://www.worlded.org>
>



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