County May Allow Parents to Bar Children From Internet

[Jane Ratner]

Although I understand your frustration, I think Mr. Tennant was correct 
in his decision.

Recently the same question came up on a Community Network I am involved 
in administering as a Policy Committee member.  We sought legal counsel 
familiar with cyber-law and the 
advice given (in a nutshell) was that according to current standards, 
brief quotations (attributed) are OK in messages, but reproduction of 
whole articles are a violation.

In Washington on September 3, Senator John Ashcroft introduced 
S. 1146, The Digital Copyright Clarification and Technology Act of 1997. 
If it passes, it should indeed clarify some of this.  In its present form 
it gives unique status to schools and libraries but I don't know how it 
treats listservs.

I hope this is helpful.

Jane Ratner
Technology Development Librarian
Willard Public Library
Battle Creek, MI  49017