Being a librarian in today’s society is changing all of the time due to
technology. The main way that technology is changing librarianship is through
the internet. As the internet develops, librarians must decide what access will
be allowed for their patrons. I believe that as a Christian librarian, I should
not allow free and unlimited access to the internet to my patrons, regardless of
their age.
The internet is a useful tool, but it is also a scary one. Through it, all kinds
of addictions can be formed, not just to pornography, but also to things like
gambling, chat rooms, online gaming, and even to the internet itself. Because of
these potential problems, librarians—whether Christian or not—have a
responsibility to monitor and control the internet usage of their patrons.
One guideline for librarians is that an internet filter should be in place on
all computers. The filter should restrict access based on individual sites,
rather than just random keywords. That way, librarians can review a site and
decide whether or not to block it. To help them decide, a list of sites visited
by the patrons should be created. Then librarians can use it to see the kinds of
sites that their patrons are visiting. This will help them to determine if there
are sites that should be blocked. Also, if a patron feels that a site should not
be blocked, or if they feel as though one should be, they can make an appeal to
the library, and the library can block/unblock sites as needed.
Another guideline is a time restriction placed on all users of the internet. It
is very easy for users to get carried away, and spend hours and hours on the
internet. Not only does this become an addiction, but it is also inconvenient
for others wishing to use the computers. Having a time-constraint will force
users to spend their time productively, instead of wasting it. It will also
allow for more user turnover, creating happier patrons.
A third guideline is that children should not have access to the internet
without parental consent, and if at all possible, parents should be required to
browse with their children. This will let the children know that they are
responsible to their parents for what they view. Also, I think that a list of
helpful websites for homework should be available to children. That way they are
not just randomly searching for homework help. The library could use a list
already in place, or they could survey the children to find out their favorite
sites.
A final guideline is placing computers with internet access in full view, so
that anyone who walks by can see the sites that are being accessed. This will
cause patrons to be more careful of the sites they visit. It will also allow
librarians to see the people who are using the internet, and allow them to, if
necessary, ask the patron to view another site.
As a Christian librarian in today’s society, I have a great responsibility. I am
responsible for the things that I allow my patrons to access. I am responsible
for those who become addicted to the internet in my library. I am responsible
for those who look at things they should not. Since I have these
responsibilities, I believe that internet access should be restricted to certain
sites, certain times, certain places, and certain ages.
Please Send All Comments Or Suggestions To: Ruth