RE: The Library Privacy Act and restrictions on access by minors

[Poulson, Barry]

Merit Affiliates,

I have looked into and attempted to resolve this and similar issues over the years in various contexts.  A few questions that may arise as you/we approach implementation:

1. Will you simply install a certain filter on the "regulated" PC's, delegating your (soon to be) statutory responsibility to it?  Will there be new categories?  Games?  Hate-speech?  Commercial use?

2. Having two categories of computers de-optimizes the installation.  If you once had 10, perhaps you will now need 6 of each, since it will be difficult to forecast the shifting demand.  Who buys the new capacity?

3. Users on a non-regulated unit may create an environment (by what they elect to view) that is felt by other patrons as creating a hostile environment for them as they pursue their own legitimate study.  Who will arbitrate?  Who is liable?

4. If you sequester the unrestricted units (in the sense of creating a "blue room") you may be creating an inhibition by their placement that is objectionable to an adult user who wishes to utilize an unrestricted unit for legitimate purposes.

5. Will the legislation address chat or messaging systems, which can, of course, take unexpected turns during legitimate conversation, or be flooded with objectionable material from mis-users.

(I have employed the term "legitimate" to describe "adult but non-prurient" search, retrieval, or browsing.  That is a value judgment, but we will see many value judgements before this issue is resolved.  If ever!)

I am certain other questions will arise, and perhaps a forum for their discussion will be suggested.  Hopefully, I have posted this to the appropriate list; if not, please advise.

Barry Poulson

-----Original Message-----
From:   David McCauslin [SMTP:spirit@mich.com]
Sent:   Tuesday, July 07, 1998 10:57 AM
To:     mjus@merit.edu; mjts@merit.edu; minwg-share@merit.edu; Jeff Ogden
Subject:        Re: The Library Privacy Act and restrictions on access by minors



-----Original Message-----
From: Jeff Ogden <jogden@merit.edu>
To: mjus@merit.edu <mjus@merit.edu>; mjts@merit.edu <mjts@merit.edu>;
minwg-share@merit.edu <minwg-share@merit.edu>
Date: Tuesday, July 07, 1998 8:47 AM
Subject: The Library Privacy Act and restrictions on access by minors


>On 7/1/98 HB 5982 was introduced in the Michigan House of Representatives
>and referred to the Committee on Advanced Technology and Computer
>Development. The bill amends "The library privacy act" to explicitly allow
>a library board to restrict access of minors to obscene or pornographic
>material over the Internet. A portion of the bill is included below. The
>entire bill is available on the Web at:
>    http://www.michiganlegislature.org/
>
While I think it is nice that they thought of the pornographic issues this
time, I wonder why they would include Sec. 6 (B) that states they will
reserve 1 or more terminals that are not restricted.
Personally, I do not think that would go over very well in our library here.
On a similar note, I was contacted by Rep. Lingg Brewer, regarding H.B.
5964 - they will be working on an addendum that protects at least the K-12
environment from the limitations imposed by that bill.  I told him my views
on that, and the danger that schools would have if the kids could not be
monitored.
So, we may be making progress.

David W. McCauslin
Technology Director
Cheboygan Area Schools