FW: Limiting Lynx to specific URLs -Reply

[jkuntz at mhv.net]

	This is for public terminals, in a situation where the library 
directors are dead set against wide open web access for fear that they will 
never have enough workstations. (In fact, they may be underconfigured now in 
terms of the number of regular PAC workstations!) I believe some of their 
fear is justified.
	They concede that access to a gopher server would be acceptable, 
since it is controllable. I tried to explain that being limited to a gopher 
server would ignore a wealth of resources on the web; and if surfing was a 
concern, maybe there would be a way to control that type of use.
	The idea of limiting people to a set amount of time seems to me to 
be an even more impractical solution. It's been tried in public libraries, 
and has resulted in fistfights.
	I'm open to any other constructive suggestions.
	
				Jerry Kuntz
				Ramapo Catskill Library System
				jkuntz at mhv.net
---------------Original Message---------------
>>> <jkuntz at mhv.net> 06/17/96 12:16pm >>>
	For purposes having to do with the economics
of supporting surfing  behavior rather than an
impulse to censor, we would like to know if there is 
any way possible to implement a LYNX server so
that it can reach only URLs  that we specify
(500-2000, say?) and not follow other links from
those  sites.
---------------------------------
I have no idea, nor do I care, whether Lynx can be
so configured.  I do, however, suggest you rethink
things a bit.  First, if this is for public terminals, it
seems inappropriate.  I'm sure someone could still
spend vast amounts of time at those locations you
bless.  If spending too much time there is the
problem, solve the problem by limiting the time
anyone can spend at a public station to 20 or 30
minutes, or whatever works for you.

If the problem is with staff, once again you have a
management problem, not a technology problem.  If
staff need access to information to do their jobs,
there is just no way that you can be sure what they
need is in ANY set of links.  After all, hundreds or
thousands of new sites are being established
EVERY day, and you just can't keep up with them
all on some sort of approved list.  This is no
different than the censors face in trying to keep a
list of "bad places" (however defined) to keep kids
or others out of.  New ones come up just too
quickly.  

Remember, you work in a library...and as I often
remind folks here and elsewhere....if I wanted to
have a  distraction to keep me from my work, it
doesn't take the internet....I have a half million
books and 4000 journals at my disposal....from
which I could find more that I want to "goof off with"
for the rest of my life.  (I'm 53,but it would
undoubtedly be true for those half my age too)   o-)

cheers

cyclops




----------End of Original Message----------

-------------------------------------
E-mail: jkuntz at pop.mhv.net
Date: 06/17/96
Time: 17:22:53

This message was sent by Chameleon 
-------------------------------------