web issues: blocking email, chat, and porn

[Burt, David]

Dan Lester wrote:

>On the debate on email,
>the only point that I didn't notice was that no one mentioned
>the potential conflict/problem of a public, tax supported
>agency competing with local for-profit business.  I'm sure that
>if any library in Idaho provided free email accounts, etc, that a
>number of ISPs would be all over them, in court if necessary.

That is *exactly* what happened when the Salem (OR) Public Library set
itself up as an ISP.  The local ISPs screamed bloody murder that this
was unfair competition, and tried very hard to get the Salem City
Council to make them stop.  That was about 9 months ago, and I
understand they are still in business.


  ***********************************************************
          David Burt, Information Technology Librarian 
          The Lake Oswego Public Library 
          706 Fourth Street, Lake Oswego, OR 97034
          URL:          http://www.ci.oswego.or.us/library/library.htm
          Phone:     (503) 675-2537 
          Fax:           (503) 635-4171 
          E-mail:      dburt at ci.oswego.or.us