Internet Program Tips

[hyman at sjrlc.org]

I've been reading the back and forth on assembling "balanced"
conference programs on Internet Filtering. I have been speaking on
Internet Access Policies for the past two years, and I offer the following
advice to anyone currently planning a program or thinking about
speaking at one.

1. Think about your priorities before you start.  Mine are that after the
program, participants will develop and articulate an Internet access
policy based on their mission and intellectual freedom policies, factual
information about the Internet, a realistic legal outlook, and maximum
benefit to their users. 

Afterwards, some people tell me that I was instrumental in their decision
not to filter and have helped them to articulate a better policy; some tell
me that I helped them to feel more comfortable with their choice to filter. 
(Either I'm doing something right or people pretty much do what they
want to anyway. I like to think I help them do it better).

2. Let your speaker(s) know that accurate and complete information is
the highest priority.  Opinions, guesses, and predictions are fine but
should be described as such.  The end does not justify the means i.e. it is
not acceptable to misrepresent the facts "in defense of intellectual
freedom" or to "protect children." A balanced program requires speakers
with the intellectual integrity to get the facts, tell the truth, and admit
what they don't know. 

3. Consider going into more depth than filtering vs. not filtering. Within
both of those choices, there are a wide variety of options ranging from
the flawed but acceptable to the draconian.  (I talk about some of them in
an article for American Libraries in November 97.  At this point, I'd
guess that AL would not appreciate my forwarding the full text to the
list). Filtering is best discussed within the full context of access policies,
management, and customer service. Better still, combine a discussion of
access policies with customer service, Internet opportunities, etc. If it's
too much for one program, do several sessions or an all-day symposium.  

4. Get real.    Some Internet Access policies are an extraordinarily poor
fit with the mission of the public library, but every choice has a
downside. A speaker should be prepared to discuss the problems and
pitfalls of any approach they recommend.  Anyone who doesn't see any
problems is not the right speaker. 


What all bad programs have in common is that they misrepresent reality.
Some programs to avoid:

The Propaganda.  Facts are altered or omitted to suit the single
ideological position of the program.  May include one or more speakers
with identical points of view.  Extraordinarily unattractive in a profession
campaigning for intellectual freedom.

The Clueless.  Speakers are ill informed, out-of-date, or speaking outside
of their area of expertise. Misinformation abounds as attorneys
inaccurately describe how filters work, librarians misinterpret the law,
and techies confuse software with policy.

The Screaming Heads. A variation of the propaganda in which two or more
individuals distort/omit the facts in support of opposing points of view.
Unfortunately disagreement does not guarantee the exchange of
useful or accurate information. Watch Nightline on almost any night for an
example.

The Pep Rally. Features a trip to a never-never land where parents can
prevent their actual kids from risky choices and damaging influences by
"staying involved" and setting rules.  The pep rally can offend not only
parents who believe that the library or software can protect their kids,
but anyone who has ever been a parent in an untranquilized state. 

In the real world, I know that sessions are put together on short notice,
generally one week past the deadline for the program copy to the printer.
Any time you take for advance planning and communication, however,
can help you to create a program that makes a difference or avoid one
that is worse than nothing.