Carrie Smith Jones LIBR 180

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Carrie Smith (Jones)LIBR 180

• Spring 2005

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Ethical and Legal Issues

• Censorship
• (Web Filtering)
• If your library is not unsafe, it probably
  isnt doing its job.John Berry, Library
  Journal, October 1999

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What is Intellectual Freedom?

• Intellectual freedom means that an individual can
  seek information from many different points of
  view with no restrictions. It allows a person to
  have free access to all ideas and all sides of
  any question that is being explored.

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What is Censorship?

• Censorship is a change made in how you can access
  material. This change is based on the content of
  the material. It is made by a governing
  authority. These changes can include age/grade
  level, exclusion or restriction or removal of
  materials.
• Censorship of anything, at any time, in any
  place, on whatever pretense, has always been and
  always be the last resort of the boob and the
  bigot. Eugene Gladstone ONeill, American
  playwright

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• School library media programs play a very
  important role in promoting intellectual freedom.
  
• School library media specialists must consider
  many factors in how they handle the job of being
  a resource specialist.

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Factors to be considered

• How do their collection development policies
  address this issue?
• Are there procedures in place for handling
  challenges of library resources?
• How is student access to the internet handled?
• Are they appropriately promoting intellectual
  freedom?

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• Of course, no library can make all materials
  available.
• Selection is an inclusive process, while
  censorship is an exclusive process.
• There are many reasons why a library might decide
  not to include certain materials in its
  collection that have nothing to do with the
  actual ideas expressed in those materials.

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Reasons may include

• Redundancy
• Lack of interest
• Expense
• Space
• Just because certain materials are on the library
  shelf does not mean endorsement of those ideas.
  It is the job of the media specialist to provide
  information from all points of view.

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Web Filtering

• The Childrens Internet Protection Act (CIPA)
  went into effect in 2000.
• This meant that school libraries had to install
  filtering software on their computers and
  networks.
• School officials, including media specialists,
  should be making the decisions about what Web
  sites are blocked by the filtering software.
• Many school districts are giving the authority to
  make these decisions to one person, often the
  technology coordinator.

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Technology Coordinator vs. Media Specialist

• Tech people think media specialists are
• Unsupportive
• Hard to work with
• Too liberal
• Media specialists think Tech people are
• Overworked
• Managing and maintaining too many areas
• Usually go for the quick fix to keep everything
  running

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• In most school libraries a request to unblock a
  Web site requires a formal request to either the
  technology coordinator or a school administrator
  and the process can take too long.
• Every librarian, computer lab monitor, and
  teacher who uses the Internet frequently should
  have override privileges.
• Educators know what sites best serve their
  students needs. They should be the ones
  determining which Web sites to use.

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Unconstitutional Use of Filtering

• Blocking certain categories based on the idea
  that they might have controversial material.
• Blocking sites because a person in that
  particular school district doesnt approve of the
  site.
• Not setting up the system so teachers or
  librarians can quickly review a site and
  determine if it is appropriate.

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Other problems with filtering include

• Under blocking inappropriate sites get through
• Over blocking preventing access to sites that
  are appropriate
• Do not filter chat areas or images
• Can be easily disabled or worked around
• Give media specialists, teachers, administrators
  a false sense of security

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As media specialists we are proponents of
intellectual freedom. We need to

• Choice of filters should be based on features and
  customizability, not on convenience or cost.
• Argue for the least restrictive settings
• Use the override lists
• Treat requests for blocking sites in the same way
  you would treat a book challenge.
• Teach students to be self-regulating Internet
  users.
• Educate parents about school Internet use.
• Create learning environments that show Internet
  use in a positive way.

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Media specialists can also promote appropriate
Internet behavior by

• Discuss personal values
• Build trust with students
• Model ethical behaviors
• Use practice activities that teach making good
  ethical choices
• Help students avoid temptation by creating the
  appropriate atmosphere
• Educate parents about ethics and use of
  technology.

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• School districts (administrators) need to realize
  that filters are often just a quick technological
  fix.
• The most important issue is to focus on giving
  students the values, knowledge, and skills to
  make responsible and safe choices when using the
  Internet.
• Fear of corrupting the mind of the younger
  generation is the loftiest form of
  cowardice.Holbrook Jackson

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Sources

• http//proquest.umi.com
• www.personal.umd.umich.edu
• www.ala.org
• www.eduref.org
• Who's blocking whom?Walter Minkel. School Library
  Journal.New York Jun 2003. Vol. 49, Iss. 6 p.
  35
• School Internet Security Software Discriminates
  Against Second AmendmentAnonymous. The American
  Hunter. Washington Sep 2004. Vol. 32, Iss. 9 p.
  135 (1 page)