Limiting Internet Access

[Glen Davies]

> Can anyone recommend some specific software packages a public library can
> use to limit Internet access to a few specific sites.  The library provides
> unlimited Internet access on several computers.  Due to the number of
> surfers, they also want to have a computer dedicated to certain services
> the library subscribes to such as FirstSearch and SearchBank.  They've
> tried self policing (signs requesting people to refrain from surfing)
> without success.
> 
There are a couple of client side packages that allow this. Cyber 
Patrol has a CyberYes list and Netshepherd  also has a similar 
function. 

I could not get either of these packages to work through our firewall 
though. The most effective way of restricting access on networked 
machines is to set up a proxy server.  We are running Netscapes Proxy 
2.5 to limit users to a set list of sites that we have selected (not because 
we want to limit access, but because down here in New Zealand we 
have to pay for every megabyte of traffic, which can cause some serious
budget blowouts if people are allowed unrestricted access) 
 
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Glen Davies                        "I've been drunk for 
Systems Support Librarian    a week now, and I 
Learning Resource Centre    thought it might sober
Christchurch Polytechnic      me up to sit in a 
daviesg at lib.chchp.ac.nz       library." 
New Zealand                               F.Scott Fitzgerald
                                          The Great Gatsby, ch3.
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