Filters/Cybersitter

[Ronnie Morgan]

>Wrong.  Using software to block internet sites is intrinsically different
>than traditional collection development.  Collection development assumes
>that resources are finite and that you start with nothing in your
>collection and work your way up.  Software blocking assumes that
resources
>are not an issue and that you start with everything on the internet and
>work your way down.

To me, software blocking assumes there are things on the internet that
don't meet your Collection Development policy, therefore, they need to be
blocked. And, even if resources were unlimited, a good library will still
have a Collection Developement policy.

>Take a look at ILL.  Should a library refuse to ILL something
"questionable"
>for a patron?  The internet-blocking-is-the-same-as-collection-development

>argument would mean you would have to refuse.

No, but I would hope that the libraries policy is to not ILL anything for
children. But it also depends on the libraries ILL policy. The policy at my
library is to not ILL anything we would consider questionable (but being a
Christian university, we have the priviledge). Plus, even in a public
library situation, this probably hasn't been a problem. I am more likely to
sit in front of a computer, where I don't have to ask anyone for access to
a paticular site, than I would be to ask a librarian to ILL a copy of
Playboy. I would be to embarrassed to ask any librarian to do that, and on
the computer, no embarrass
ment is needed, unless I get caught...

I think the root of the problem is a distaste with Cybersitter, and others.
My site is using a database from Cyber Patrol, and so far, we haven't ran
into anything legitimate that has been blocked. I have asked the librarians
to let me know if they do hear of any from our patrons, and so far, none.
Filtering programs are not the problem, therefore, getting rid of them is
not the answer. If you don't like Cybersitter, there are others out there
that are more than willing to offer you thier services.

I think anyone will agree that the idea of blocking something that we
simply don't want, or don't need in our libraries is a reasonable thing. I
like the fact that we are finding out some interesting things about
Cybersitter, and this is good. We need to be able to make a good decision
on what ever filter program we use and feedback from other users of the
software is better than anything the company tells you. But to say that
they shouldn't be used at all is next to crazy, considering what all is
available out there.

On another note: One of the reasons why I haven't said anything before this
is that I don't have the time to sit around typing in email's, so I'm going
to jump out of this discussion before I get really behind in my work. If
you sent me a message privately, I will try to respond, but I will not be
responding on the list about this any further.

Have a good day!
Ronnie Morgan