Input sought: Internet Policy Issues

[Michael Sauers]

I'm putting together a workshop on Internet policy issues in the library.
The central purpose of the class will be to generate discussion on issues,
not to promote an agenda. This workshop will be attended by librarians,
staff and administrators for all types of libraries.

On of my handouts is a list "policy scenarios" and related discussion
points. I've come up with 15 scenarios so far but would like to have more.
If you have the time, please take a moment to read the ones I already have
send me back others that may have happened to you that I could include.

Thanks!

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Michael Sauers, Internet Trainer
Bibliographical Center for Research (BCR)
Aurora, CO :: msauers at bcr.org :: http://www.bcr.org/~msauers/
WWW Library Directory @ http://www.webpan.com/msauers/libdir/
Opinions expressed are my own unless otherwise noted.
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1.	A patron comes in and wants to check their HotMail account.
a.	Do you have a policy on e-mail access?
b.	If you do not allow access and the patron asks why, what is
	your response?

2.	A person that is not a member of your patron-base comes in
	and says he is a business traveler and would like to use one
	 of your computers to check his e-mail.
a.	You do allow e-mail access but only to patrons
b.	You do not allow e-mail to anyone

3.	Johnny’s mother comes in to the library and wishes to know if
	her son, age 12, has been using the library’s computers to
	access the Internet, as she does not allow him to do so at home.
a.	Is parental permission necessary to use the Internet?
b.	Do you have a sign-up sheet?
c.	Do you keep it. If yes, for how long?

4.	A woman comes in demanding to look at your server logs and
	browser histories since she pays taxes and wants to know if her
	tax dollars are funding homeless people looking at smut.
a.	Do you keep these records?
b.	What is your response?

5.	A college student is doing a research project for their
	human-sexuality class. Another patron, age 65, appears at the
	reference desk and makes a complaint about what the student is
	viewing on the library’s computer. And besides, kids may walk
	by and see that stuff too.
a.	Does your policy say anything about sexually explicit material?
b.	What about “research” exceptions?
c.	Is your response different for a public library as opposed to
	a university library?

6.	Two young adults are sitting at two different computers using
	online chat. It seems that they are chatting with each other.
a.	Do you have a policy on chat?
b.	They are being quiet and not disturbing any other patrons.
c.	What if no other patrons are waiting to use the terminals?
	What if there are?

7.	A middle-aged gentleman is using chat. He is attending an online
	AA meeting.
a.	Do you have a policy on chat?
b.	Will you treat this situation differently than the previous one?

8.	A college student is using chat to discuss current events with
	others as research for a paper due in a few days.
a.	Do you have a policy on chat?
b.	Does you policy, in general, state that the computers are used
	for “research” only?
c.	Do you chat policies and “research” policies conflict in this
	scenario?
d.	If yes, how do you resolve the conflict?

9.	A great way to make a little extra money for the library: link
	from your OPAC or Web site to Amazon.com through their associates
	program. Whenever someone makes a purchase the library will get
	a percentage.
a.	Does your library have a policy on where income is allowed to come from?
b.	Does your municipality or institution?

10.	You are putting together a presentation on Internet filters for
	an upcoming conference. In preparing this presentation you print
	out a few documents that contain some potentially offensive text
	and/or images. A coworker sees these printouts and complains to
	the library’s director.
a.	Is this sexual harassment?
b.	Do you have a policy for staff?
c.	Would a university library treat this differently from a public
	library?

11.	Your access at work is your only access. Do you use it to send
	non-work related e-mail or Surf for non-work related Web sites?
a.	Do you have a policy for staff use of e-mail?
b.	Do you have a policy for staff Web use?
c.	Is staff online activity monitored?

12.	You post a message to a Web site that is critical of the district's
	Internet filtering policy. Your director asks you to remove it. What
	do you do?
a.	It is hosted on a Web site not connected with the library/
	university/municipality.
b.	What if it states who you are and whom you work for?
c.	What if the posting is anonymous?

13.	You have a statement regarding copyright on the wall above your
	photocopiers. Do you have one for the printers connected to your
	Internet terminals?
a.	Should you?
b.	If no, why not?

14.	You have filters installed on the computers in the children’s/young
	adult area of your library. Anyone under the age of 16are not
	allowed to use the unfiltered terminals. However, children can check
	out any book in the library without parental permission. Your book
	collection contains copies of the work of Anaïs Nin.
a.	Is this a conflict?
b.	If a patron, age 15, points this out, how would you respond?

15.	According to city policy no city Web site is allowed to link to any
	URL ending in .com since that would be considered an 'endorsement'
	of whatever 'product or service' that commercial site is providing.
	Since your library is under the city’s umbrella, this policy applies
	to you.
a.	Does the library have its own policy on linking to sites?
b.	What if the library wants to link to “weather.com” for ready-reference
	purposes?