restricting web access

[Ward Price]

This may be off topic, but web4lib is the only list I belong to that's
related to this subject.  We are an academic library that is open to the
public.  In fact, we encourage the public, including patrons under the age
of 18, to come in and use our resources.  We have a total of 51 PCs in our
Reference area and classroom.  Forty-five of those PCs have web access.
Some people on campus are concerned that nonstudents under 18 are looking at
porn on the web.  They have the administration's ear, and they want to
restrict web access to nonstudents.  They say that it is illegal for minors
to look at porn on the web, and we could be sued if this happens in the
library.    

As far as I know, that is not true.  The Internet Decency Act was ruled
unconstitutional, but apparently some folks don't know that, and the
administration is listening to them.  I'm on the committee trying to come up
with a computer use policy, and we're moving away from open access towards
various restrictions.  A major concern is complaints from parents to the
university president; he is responsive to (influential) members of the
community.

Obviously some libraries handle this problem by just stating in their policy
that they are for open access and they are not responsible for what patrons
view on the web.  This is no longer good enough here.  In order to have open
access, I need proof that it works and we would not be liable.  Do you know
of specific cases/court rulings that protect libraries when minres view
pornography/obscenity on the web?   Are there citations to libraries
fighting for open access to the web, and winning.  How have other
institutions that have had this problem (most academic libraries probably
don't have to worry about it) solved it?  Please respond directly to me, and
if there are requests, I'll summarize for the list.  Thanks.

Ward Price

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C. Ward Price           wprice at panam.edu 
Instructional Services/Reference Librarian
     University of Texas-Pan American 
                Edinburg, Texas
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