Here are several messages sent to PUB-ADV mailing list in response to an inquiry re Internet Policy. __________ Date: Tue, 21 Oct 1997 14:52:23 -0230 (NDT) To: pub-adv@s1.net From: Elinor Benjamin Subject: Re: Internet policy? Reply-To: pub-adv@s1.net You may want to have a look at the following web-site http://www.ci.oswego.or.us/library/poli.htm which contains a wealth of what I think you are looking for Public Library Internet Access Policies Policies of 125 public libraries, last updated 8-7-97. All policies, alphabetical by city. All policies, by state. Policies of small libraries, (pop. under 100,000) by state. Policies of medium libraries, (pop. 100-499,000) by state. Policies of large libraries, (pop. over 499,000) by state. Policies written in 1995, by state. Policies written in 1996, by state. Policies written in 1997, by state. Summary data of 26 policy elements for 116 libraries, in both HTML and Word 6.0 for Windows Table 1: Summary data for all policies: HTML WORD 6.0 Table 2: Summary data for policies by date: HTML WORD 6.0 Table 3: Summary data for policies by size: HTML WORD 6.0 Detailed data of 26 policy elements, by individual library, in both HTML and Excel 5.0 for Windows Table 4: Detailed data for all policies: HTML Excel Table 5: Detailed data for small libraries: HTML Excel Table 6: Detailed data for medium libraries: HTML Excel Table 7: Detailed data for large libraries: HTML Excel Table 8: Detailed data for 1995 policies: HTML Excel Table 9: Detailed data for 1996 policies: HTML Excel Table 10: Detailed data for 1997 policies: HTML Excel Other Collections of Library Internet Policies Rice University Collection of K-12 Policies Susan Brown's Collection of Academic Policies Stacey Kimmel's Collection of Policies (Mostly Academic) Information about this site At 10:15 AM 21/10/97 -0400, you wrote: >Hello Public Librarians, >Our library system in Asheville, NC has formed a committee to >develop an public use policy for the Internet in our main >library and 10 branches. We are interested in seeing any >public library Internet policies established or revised >since the July Supreme Court decision. If anyone has one >such policy, would you please mail, fax or e-mail it to >me? We would be most grateful for the help. (Any other >suggestions would be appreciated, too!) > >Thank you, > >Peggy Weaver >Asheville-Buncombe Library System >970 Haywood Road >Asheville, NC 28806 >704-251-4990 >fax: 704-251-4920 >pweaver@ablsys.abls.lib.nc.us > > > Elinor Benjamin, Assistant Regional Librarian West Newfoundland Labrador Division, Provincial Public Libraries 5 Union Street Corner Brook, Newfoundland, Canada 709-634-7333 Phone 709-634-7313 FAX E-mail: ebenjami@calvin.stemnet.nf.ca ---------------------------------------------------------------- To post a message to the list, send to: pub-adv@s1.net ---------------------------------------------------------------- To Leave The List: Email: pub-adv-request@s1.net in the body: unsubscribe ---------------------------------------------------------------- Please direct any problems or inquiries to tpreston@aimnet.com ---------------------------------------------------------------- PUB-ADV is a service of Libraries for the Future, a national non-profit organization of public library advocates. __________ From: "Erik Mollberg" To: pub-adv@s1.net Date: Wed, 22 Oct 1997 13:27:23 EST Subject: Internet policy? Reply-To: pub-adv@s1.net In Fort Wayne Indiana, we (the public access center) operate a community computer center for the Allen County Public Library. We have 8 Internet terminals, 2 IBM word processors and 2 Mac's. Our Internet policy can be found at this web address... http://www.acpl.lib.in.us/About_the_ACPL/community_computing_center.html Erik S. Mollberg Public Access Coordinator Fort Wayne, Indiana __________ Date: Thu, 23 Oct 1997 09:11:12 -0700 (PDT) To: pub-adv@s1.net From: Terry Preston Subject: Internet policy? Reply-To: pub-adv@s1.net >In Fort Wayne Indiana, we (the public access center) operate a >community computer center for the Allen County Public Library. We >have 8 Internet terminals, 2 IBM word processors and 2 Mac's. Our >Internet policy can be found at this web address... > >http://www.acpl.lib.in.us/About_the_ACPL/community_computing_center.html > >Erik S. Mollberg >Public Access Coordinator >Fort Wayne, Indiana Question: What does a public access coordinator do, and what brought about the position? General thought to all: I'd love to see someone, somewhere, summarize the commonalities in Internet policies. It would be fascinating to see what the "consensus" is regarding what's done. The Oakland, CA Library policy is a simple one-page document that states that the Library "does not monitor and has no control over the information accessed through the Internet and cannot be held responsible for its content or quality." It asks users to "remember that they are in a public building and to show consideration for other users." Restricting access to the Internet is the sole responsibility of parent and guardian. What's interesting about the library advisory board's formal recommendation is that it included a request to staff to review ways to educate the public about the 'net. Berkeley CA, for example, has Internet Kids Club, where kids receive training and materials for their parents' review on safe and productive Internet use. I mentioned that perhaps the local Friends group could co-sponsor something like this. Final thought: I'm actually encouraged by how few controversies there seem to have been over Internet use in libraries. Maybe the usual suspects realize you can't stop progress. Or maybe they're being so effective behind the scenes that we don't know what's really happening. Terry Preston Pub-Adv Host __________ From: "McCrann, Grace-Ellen" To: "'PUB-ADV@nysernet.org'" Subject: Internet policies Date: Thu, 23 Oct 97 15:59:00 E Reply-To: pub-adv@s1.net 23 October 1997 Re Internet Policies... The State Library of North Carolina has a page on our web site re "Libraries and Public Access to the Internet". The page includes several items including suggested guidelines for developing an Internet access policy and examples of public library internet access policies Our homepage has an "Especially for Libraries" section and public access to the internet is one of the "Hot Topics for Libraries". Our home page URL is: http://hal.dcr.state.nc.us/ncslhome.htm Or if you want to go directly to the internet access page that URL is: http://hal.dcr.state.nc.us/hottopic/pubacc/pubacc.htm Yours faithfully, Grace-Ellen McCrann North Carolina Librarian The State Library of North Carolina gmccrann@hal.dcr.state.nc.us __________ Date: Fri, 24 Oct 1997 12:57:00 -0700 (PDT) To: pub-adv@s1.net From: Terry Preston Subject: Internet policy? Reply-To: pub-adv@s1.net >Terry, >Thanks for that last message about Oakland's simple policy! >Is it online? Do you have a copy? I'd love to see it. [] > >Peggy Weaver >West Asheville Branch Library It's not on the Web. The Oakland CA Library doesn't have its own graphical Web server yet. The policy, adopted by the library advisory board several months ago, is: START: In keeping with its mission to serve our diverse community as a resource for information, knowledge and artistic and literary expression, the Oakland Public Library provides access to the Internet at designated public access terminals at the Main Library and at all branches. The amount and breadth of information available via the Internet is vast and changes rapidly. The Internet offers access to many valuable information sources. However, not all sources provide accurate, complete, unbiased or current information. The Oakland Public Library does not monitor and has no control over the information accessed through the Internet and cannot be held responsible for its content or quality. Users at Oakland Public Library workstations are asked to remember that they are in a public building and to show consideration for others when viewing World Wide Web pages. As with all other library resources, any restriction of a child's access to the Internet is the sole responsibility of the parent or legal guardian. Illegal activities as well as any other activities that are intended to interfere with or disrupt network users, services or equipment are prohibited. Materials obtained or copied on this computer network may be subject to copyright laws. Materials protected by copyright may not be copied without permission of the copyright owner unless the proposed use falls within the definition of "fair use." Library staff will develop such rules and procedures necessary to insure the fair and reasonable use of Internet resources. Time limits on the use of the Internet by an individual may be imposed in order to give all users an opportunity to use the service. Time limits will be posted in public areas. END: The general theme is to put Internet use in the same context as other library resources. It's also fairly straightforward, nothing much a "rules lawyer" could play with. Hope this helps. Terry Preston ---------------------------------------------------------------- To post a message to the list, send to: pub-adv@s1.net ---------------------------------------------------------------- To Leave The List: Email: pub-adv-request@s1.net in the body: unsubscribe ---------------------------------------------------------------- Please direct any problems or inquiries to tpreston@aimnet.com ---------------------------------------------------------------- PUB-ADV is a service of Libraries for the Future, a national non-profit organization of public library advocates.