I sent it off to the land of Turnitin. That is a big relief for the week. I only shared the final with Devon, so I will post a copy here. The URLs don't show up, but they are ok on my final document. I am just too tired to mess with it any more.
Kathy Lacey
WP#2 Final
Eng 102-7891
22 Oct. 2007
Internet Filtering: An Annotated Bibliography
Internet filtering software has been in use for many years. The Children's Internet Protection Act (CIPA) requires some libraries to install filtering software (filters) on any computers designated for public use. Advocates of free access to information are decidedly against the use of filters, while parents and others want filters to prevent accidental viewing of inappropriate images and text. This controversy has led to court challenges as well as numerous complaints in various libraries. The issue continues to be widely discussed among library professionals, especially in schools. Media Specialists in the schools are challenged to provide adequate research tools for students, while ensuring that students are protected from pornography, violence, and foul or hateful language. Filters are designed to address the potential problem by blocking access to certain Web sites or images. The effectiveness of filtering software and the laws governing the use of that software are points of controversy. Current laws only pertain to certain libraries, and do not adequately address the problem. The laws need to be changed to better reflect current technology. The following sources provide information related to the issue.
Bell, Mary Ann. "The Elephant in the Room: School Districts Nationwide Are Voluntarily Filtering the Filters--And No One Is Talking About It." School Library Journal 53.1 (2007). ERIC. EBSCO. Mesa Community Coll., Paul A. Elsner Lib., Mesa, AZ. 1 Oct. 2007 .
Informal surveys conducted by the author are the basis of this article. Her surveys were conducted in 2006, and the participants were subscribers to an online discussion group for media specialists. The issue centers on Internet access policies in school districts across the United States. Specific examples of some policies are detailed, along with the results of the enforcement of those policies. The author is an associate professor at a Texas university, and her views reflect her experience. Her argument is not against filtering per se, but rather the censorship happening in school districts through the use of filtering and blocking techniques. She emphasizes the importance of information literacy and the ability to apply effective online search methods. The article concludes with six steps that libraries can take to deal with the issue of filtering. The information will help me document some specific instances of the research process being hindered by filtering software.
Bocher, Bob. "A CIPA Toolkit." Library Journal 128.13 (2003): 36-37. Education Research Complete. EBSCO. Mesa Community Coll., Paul A. Elsner Lib. 17 Sept. 2007 .
This article addresses a variety of issues associated with the Supreme Court ruling in 2003, which determined that the filtering requirements of CIPA are constitutional. Specific programs covered by the ruling are explained, and key issues of each aspect are identified. One section emphasizes the handling of unblocking requests made by adult patrons. Another section deals with possible actions against a library for perceived filter failure, and the handling of complaints through the use of written library policies. The author is a technology consultant for the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, State Division for Libraries, Technology, and Community Learning, and served as Chief Council of the State School Officers’ State E-Rate Coordinators’ Alliance. The information helped me understand the scope of the CIPA ruling and its effect on many public libraries. The specific details will help me explain the different ways that libraries choose to comply with the requirements, and the associated consequences of non-compliance.
Carson, Bryan. The Law of Libraries and Archives. Lanham, MD: Scarecrow Press, 2007. 247-260.
This book contains a chapter pertaining to the provisions of the CIPA, the court challenge by the American Library Association (ALA), and the subsequent Supreme Court decision. The result of the ruling is summarized, along with an explanation of the plurality opinion that determined that ruling. The author presents his interpretation along with actual text from the written opinion submitted by each Supreme Court Justice. Key elements of each opinion help explain the final ruling. There is also a section that expresses the need for library policies that cover all aspects of filtering, including the requests from adult patrons to unblock access or turn filtering off. The author is an associate professor at Western Kentucky University, a member of the bar, and Coordinator of Reference and Instructional Services for their Library Media Education Program. The information will provide a perspective on the legal ramifications of filtering, as well as stressing the importance of having thorough written policies covering the use and requests for non-use of filters.
Faulkner, Marcel. "Filter Schmilter: Libraries and Internet Filtering Software." WebJunction. 6 Dec. 2006. Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records. 5 Dec. 2007 .
The first section of this article gives a brief summary of the Internet and its increasing importance as a research tool in schools and libraries. Another section reviews the traditional role of librarians in the selection of materials deemed appropriate for the collection. The terms “filtering” and “blocking” are explained, as well as some of the strengths and weaknesses of each. Statistics are presented that detail the results of tests conducted to evaluate the level of effectiveness of different software, most recently in 2005. The last half of the article addresses some arguments against filtering, and stresses freedom of access to information. The author concludes that libraries should resist pressure to implement filtering unless required by law. He is a Librarian Assistant at Hamilton Public Library in Hamilton, Ontario. The article is written for library professionals in Canada and the United States. The information will be used to present evidence about the ineffectiveness of current filtering laws.
Heins, Marjorie, Christina Cho, and Ariel Feldman. "Internet Filters: A Public Policy Report." 2nd ed. 2006. Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law. 5 Oct. 2007 .
This lengthy report is an updated version of a 2001 publication written as a summary of the major studies of filtering effectiveness conducted up to that time. The 2006 edition includes results of more recent surveys and more background information on all aspects of the filtering debate. The majority of the statistics presented deal with over blocking and under blocking by the most prominent filtering software applications. The conclusions reached by the authors, based on all of the studies they reference, point to the overall failure of filtering performance. Recommendations are offered to help libraries increase safe use of the Internet while complying with CIPA requirements. The authors work for the Free Expression Policy Project, a research and advocacy group that is now part of the Brennan Center for Justice at the New York University (NYU) School of Law. The bias of the authors against filtering is evident, but the detailed examples will provide further evidence in support of my thesis.
Johnson, Doug. "Maintaining Intellectual Freedom in a Filtered World." Learning and Leading with Technology 32.8 (2005): 39. ERIC. EBSCO. Mesa Community Coll., Paul A. Elsner Lib., Mesa, AZ. 1 Oct. 2007 .
This article presents a logical process employed in a Minnesota school district to determine the best way to implement Internet filtering while protecting the intellectual freedom of the staff and students. The author describes his reservations and fears associated with blocking of Internet access to some sites. He also lists ways that students can make the filters ineffective. Four main courses of action are described to minimize problems associated with student online access, concluding with a list of steps that teachers and library staff can take to ensure proper use of the Internet. The author is Director of Media and Technology for the Mankato (Minnesota) Area Public Schools, and serves on the Board of Directors for the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE). The rational approach to filtering he describes best mirrors my own feelings on the issue, and will be used as evidence in support of my position.
"Libraries Should Use Software Filters to Censor Internet Pornography." Contemporary Issues Companion: Censorship (2004). Kate Burns. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 2004. Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center. Thomson Gale. Mesa Community Coll., Paul A. Elsner Lib., Mesa, AZ. 17 Sept. 2007 <http://find.galegroup.com.ezp.mc.maricopa.edu/ovrc/infomark.do?&contentSet=GSRC&type=retrieve&tabID=T010&prodId=OVRC&docId=EJ3010266212&source=gale&srcprod=OVRC&userGroupName=mcc_mesa&version=1.0>.
The contents of this article were excerpted from a speech given by Robert Peters in 2003. Peters was speaking as the president of Morality in Media, a watchdog organization that fights obscenity and graphic violence on the Internet. One section discusses the traditional role of librarians in the selection of materials for libraries. Another part covers tactics pornographers use to circumvent filtering applications. Several anti-filtering arguments are addressed, and the author offers a refutation of each one. The author concludes that filtering is essential, even with its flaws. The information will be useful in explaining the sentiments of groups seeking to expand the use of filtering in libraries and schools, and the pro-filtering stance in general. The author wrote the article before CIPA was passed, but the information is still fairly accurate and reflects current opinion on the issue.
Meeder, Rebecca. "Access Denied: Internet Filtering Software in K-12 Classrooms." TechTrends: Linking Research & Practice to Improve Learning 49.6 (2005): 56-78. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. Mesa Community Coll., Paul A. Elsner Lib., Mesa, AZ. 12 Sept. 2007 .
Teaching students to use technology responsibly is the recommendation of this author. Filtering software is explained, with emphasis on computer access in K-12 schools. Typical problems with filtering technology are discussed, including improper blocking of valuable research and educational sites. The balance of the article elaborates on things that educators can do to help students use the Internet, with filtering software in place, to conduct research. Five steps are suggested to assist teachers and technology staff members in monitoring student access. The author was a graduate assistant at the University of Hawaii when the article was published, and was working toward a Master’s degree in the educational technology program. The information is presented in a well-balanced way, with no obvious bias. It will help me present the point of view of educators in the filtering debate, as well as some strategies for teaching safe Internet use in schools.
Smith, Mark. Neal-Schuman Internet Policy Handbook for Libraries. New York: Neal-Schuman, 1999. 75-98.
This book devotes a chapter to the positive and negative aspects of filtering. The information presented is meant to provide beneficial details for library staff members facing a decision about whether or not to filter their Internet access. There is good coverage of the ALA position and policy statements regarding filtering, and a brief reference to anti-obscenity statutes. The author presents a thorough explanation of the difference between material selection and content filtering in libraries. Another section of the chapter is devoted to the variety of choices available concerning filtering, as well as the way most of the software operates and the major vendors. Several alternatives to filtering are explained, accompanied by sample library policy statements. The final part of the chapter offers five case histories that will help me describe types of challenges that occur as a result of filtering or not filtering. The bias-free presentation of the material in this book will allow me to offer facts and statements that pertain to both sides of the filtering debate.
Looking at the different perspectives on this issue has helped me to understand the strong positions held by segments of the population that I do not ordinarily deal with on a regular basis. Some groups that I thought would be very much against filtering seem to understand the need to protect children, and have found ways to work around the filtering requirements. Much of the research has made me aware of the variety of software programs in use, and the approaches taken by different libraries to address this issue. As I develop the outline for the research paper, I may need to locate additional sources for the pro-filtering component. The anti-filtering literature is abundant, with special insight for the school aspect. The resources located will help to present the information in an interesting (and persuasive) manner for the audience.
