According to this report to the London Public Library Board meeting for May 16, 43% of the library’s Internet access computers are already filtered. They propose to increase the number of filtered station and find a way to implement filtering on their wireless network. To quote, “the majority of machines in public space will be filtered.”
The problem at the library (”on an infrequent but regular basis”) is that some patrons are complaining about being exposed to sexual and/or violent images on computer screens as they pass by them. The solution to this problem, as most libraries in the country have already found, does not require a restriction of intellectual freedom (and where it’s a matter of rearranging furniture and adding privacy screens, it’s often cheaper than software!).
The LPL’s 3-page report also reveals a lack of built-in public consultation in the process. They say there will be a “feedback mechanisms for the public and staff” but it doesn’t sound like anyone’s encouraging a debate about intellectual freedom. If Internet filtering is under consideration, the public should have input about which computers (if any) need to be filtered, what alternatives to filtering might be, and what different filters actually filter out and what they allow to pass by. Lest you think this might just be an experiment to see how patrons react, they’ve included this gem as part of their project: “Deveop good communications strategies that provide messages on this issue that enable positive responses both internally and externally.” Good, a sales pitch. Come to think of it, I didn’t see the words “intellectual freedom” mentioned in the report at all….hmm…
Here are some good resources on Internet filtering:
Internet Filters: A Public Policy Report - from The Free Expression Policy Project
The Southern Ontario Library Service has a nice big set of resources and links.
MIT Student Association for Freedom of Expression’s Information about Labeling and Rating Systems
PeaceFire: Internet filter circumvention! You know the LPL staff are activists when they start handing little slips of paper with this web address to their patrons…
The Use of Filtering Software in Public Libraries - a memo from a Florida attorney. U.S.-based, but interesting. Includes this nugget: “The problem should be solved by partitioning-off Internet terminals to prevent conflicts over taste and preference.”
Ann Curry’s 2002 study “What are Public Library Customers Viewing on the Internet?” — from the Brantford Public Library. She did a similar study in 2000 on the Burnaby Public Library.
And, of course, the ALA “affirms that the use of filtering software by libraries to block access to constitutionally protected speech violates the Library Bill of Rights.”
It will be interesting to see what happens. The next LPL Board meeting is on June 20th at 5:30 pm in the Friends of the London Public Libary Board Room at the Central branch (251 Dundas). According to the meeting’s agenda, UWO’s Dr. Sam Trosow (Faculty of Information and Media Studies & Faculty of Law) and Dr. Roma Harris (University Vice Provost & Faculty of Information and Media Studies) have delegation status and will be speaking at the meeting. If you’re in London, please try to attend and contribute to the discussion!
On a side-note, I think it’s important to take note of the LPL’s use of the term “customer” to the exclusion of any other — their choice of wording is indicative of their approach to service: rather than being a place to discuss the nature of intellectual freedom with their patrons, they aim to be a “comfortable” space for [appropriate] customers. Good libraries have always made me a little uncomfortable.
-SIO
