The Librarian's Internet-Policing the New
Keeping Your Guidelines Current
Gail Junion-Metz -- School Library Journal, 1/1/2001
If it's been 18 months since you last updated your library's Internet User Policy (IUP), the following sites will get you up to speed on the latest topics, the most recent statistics, legal information you may not be aware of, as well as guidelines for advising your library's Board of Trustees. You'll also find case studies that can help you prepare for IUP dilemmas and offer enforcement scenarios.
The Internet and Public Libraries...Issues and Opportunities
www.iage.com/rusa.shtm
This recently updated site contains links to the most relevant Web-based information, as well as citations to books on IUP and Net use in public libraries. Source: Gail Junion-Metz, Information Age Consultants, Winfield, PA.
A Legal and Educational Analysis of K-12
Internet Acceptable Use Policies
ces.uoregon.edu/responsibleuse/analysis.htm
This site contains hard-to-locate legal information and opinions that relate to school, district, and public library IUPs, including due process, search and seizure, student safety, district liability, and First Amendment issues. Source: Nancy Willard, Information Technology Consultant, Eugene, OR.
Survey of Internet Access Management in Public Libraries
www.lis.uiuc.edu/gslis/research/internet.pdf
This June 2000 study contains important statistics and information about the way public libraries handle Internet access, including how Web-based information for both kids and adults is filtered and selected. This site is great for school librarians and also a good source for statistics to quote to trustees and board members. Required: Adobe Acrobat. Source: Library Research Center, University of Illinois, for the American Library Association.
Staff Internet Use Policy and Procedures
www.bham.wednet.edu/5260staf.htm
www.bham.wednet.edu/5260proc.htm
Student and patron IUPs are easy to find, but good staff IUPs are harder to come by. Use these two documents to help you write or update a staff IUP. Source: Bellingham Public Schools, Bellingham, WA.
Guidelines for School Web Pages
macserver.stjohns.k12.fl.us/guidelines.html
Most library IUPs don't include guidelines for the appearance of your library's Web site, such as how graphics should be displayed, and the importance of putting current dates on all pages. This site offers a few, including Web stylesheet examples, and a sample parental permission letter for Web activities. Source: St. John Country School District, St. Augustine, FL. Detour: Check out the parental permission letter created by Bellingham Public Schools at www.bham.wednet.edu/parent.htm.
IUP Role-Play Exercise for School (Public) Library Staff
Once your library's IUP is in place, it's important for library staff to discuss how policies will be enforced and how they should respond to difficult situations that may arise. These role-playing exercises, based on imagined scenarios, will encourage communication between library staff and their supervisors. Source: Gail Junion-Metz, Information Age Consultants, Winfield, PA.
