Blog Homework - 10/13
Why does the Monroe County Library oppose government mandated internet filters? What is the name of the federal legislation that they oppose?
The act that the Monroe County Public Library is opposed to is called the Children's Internet Protection Act (CIPA). MCPL opposes government mandated filters (due to this act) for the simple reason that they do not work well enough. The filters block out too much non-objectionable material and still allow access to sites that should have been blocked. Having a library enforce and implement these filters is a waste of time and funding. I completely agree with the position the Monroe Co. Library is taking. If parents do not want their kids viewing objectionable material, they should monitor their child's use on their terms and set their own rules - not make public figures such as librarians do it.
The Monroe County Public Library website is quoted as saying: "Except for the Web pages produced by the Library, MCPL does not control Internet content and makes no general effort to limit Internet access. However, when informed of a violation of MCPL's Internet and Computer Use Policy, library staff will enforce the legal, ethical and cooperative responsibilities outlined above. As with other materials, parents and guardians of minor children--not the library nor its staff--are responsible for supervising their children's use of Internet resources at the library."
They also have a statement on their website about Intellectual Freedom:
"Individual patrons determine for themselves what library materials are appropriate for personal checkout or viewing. Parents or guardians are responsible for determining what their children borrow, view or use in the library. Library staff will not monitor or restrict any patron's borrowing or use of the library, its materials, or its resources based on a patron's age, background or views. The Monroe County Public Library endorses and defends the concepts of intellectual freedom, as protected by the United States Constitution and as described in the Library Bill of Rights."
The Wired article that was assigned for class (Justices Eye Library Porn Filters) this week makes a great point about why it is impossible to keep up with the vast number of pornographic and objectionable sites on the Internet. According to this article there are eleven million website like this, which has probably increased at an alarming rate since then. I don't think there could ever be a filter to stop people from viewing objectionable material. If someone wants to do so, there is really no stopping them. And we should be alright with that - the first amendment gives us this right.
The act that the Monroe County Public Library is opposed to is called the Children's Internet Protection Act (CIPA). MCPL opposes government mandated filters (due to this act) for the simple reason that they do not work well enough. The filters block out too much non-objectionable material and still allow access to sites that should have been blocked. Having a library enforce and implement these filters is a waste of time and funding. I completely agree with the position the Monroe Co. Library is taking. If parents do not want their kids viewing objectionable material, they should monitor their child's use on their terms and set their own rules - not make public figures such as librarians do it.
The Monroe County Public Library website is quoted as saying: "Except for the Web pages produced by the Library, MCPL does not control Internet content and makes no general effort to limit Internet access. However, when informed of a violation of MCPL's Internet and Computer Use Policy, library staff will enforce the legal, ethical and cooperative responsibilities outlined above. As with other materials, parents and guardians of minor children--not the library nor its staff--are responsible for supervising their children's use of Internet resources at the library."
They also have a statement on their website about Intellectual Freedom:
"Individual patrons determine for themselves what library materials are appropriate for personal checkout or viewing. Parents or guardians are responsible for determining what their children borrow, view or use in the library. Library staff will not monitor or restrict any patron's borrowing or use of the library, its materials, or its resources based on a patron's age, background or views. The Monroe County Public Library endorses and defends the concepts of intellectual freedom, as protected by the United States Constitution and as described in the Library Bill of Rights."
The Wired article that was assigned for class (Justices Eye Library Porn Filters) this week makes a great point about why it is impossible to keep up with the vast number of pornographic and objectionable sites on the Internet. According to this article there are eleven million website like this, which has probably increased at an alarming rate since then. I don't think there could ever be a filter to stop people from viewing objectionable material. If someone wants to do so, there is really no stopping them. And we should be alright with that - the first amendment gives us this right.
posted by jt at 2:56 PM
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