Final: Censorship Needs: Real or Perceived?

[Eric Schnell]

I wish to thank all of you for your private comments
on this issue. I have gotten about 20 (so far) from
public librarians alone. I guess my comments could
have focused on libraries in general since I seem
to have struck a nerve with some of our public 
colleagues. I did not intend on being critical
of public libraries, they have been the most active 
in this area.

  I guess I believe the most important role of 
librarians is not being the gatekeepers of 
information, but being educators. What message are 
we sending if, as librarians, we spend so much time, 
energy, and resources on Internet filtering rather 
than spending it educating patrons on the responsible 
and appropriate use of the Internet? What are we saying
about our profession when at a recent conference this 
issue demanded more attention than any other? 

Thanks again for all your thoughts...

Eric Schnell
Head, Automation Services
Prior Health Sciences Library
The Ohio State University
schnell.9 at osu.edu
http://bones.med.ohio-state.edu/eric.html