D#7,HW#3 WP#2 Draft

Internet Filtering
Annotated Bibliography

Internet filtering software has been in use for many years. The law requires some libraries to install 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 children from viewing inappropriate images and text. This controversy has led to court challenges as well as numerous complaints in various libraries. The research potential is enhanced by the strong feelings of the groups involved. 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 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 <http://ezp.mc.maricopa.edu:2048/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=eric&AN=EJ755241&site=ehost-live>.

The author summarizes the results of an informal survey she conducted in 2006. She gives some specific examples of filter-related problems, and offers six ways to approach the issue. As an associate professor at a university, she has a good background to write about the topic.

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 <http://ezp.mc.maricopa.edu:2048/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=ehh&AN=10566884&site=ehost-live>.

This article answers many questions about filtering requirements under CIPA. I located it using the Education Research Complete database through MCC. Most of the information is related to a Supreme Court ruling, and the effect it had on libraries. The author’s credentials qualify him as a reliable source for this topic. The article will help me identify those libraries that are affected by the law.

Carson, Bryan. The Law of Libraries and Archives. Lanham, MD: Scarecrow Press, 2007.

There is a chapter in this book that goes into detail about the Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA) and the legal rulings and opinions that pertain to it. The opinions for each of the Supreme Court justices are given, along with explanations for their interpretations. This will be very helpful to me when I explain the background of my thesis and research question. The book also reviews the Act and the way it affects all public libraries.

Faulkner, Marcel. "Filter Schmilter: Libraries and Internet Filtering Software." WebJunction. 6 Dec. 2006. Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records. 5 Dec. 2007 <http://az.webjunction.org/do/DisplayContent?id=14621>.

This extensive article was published before the CIPA rulings took effect. It has a section dealing with school libraries, and goes into great depth on the background, current situation, and the outlook for filtering. There are lists of resources and contact information for organizations involved in the issue.

"Government Efforts to Protect Children from Online Pornography Are Ineffective." Current Controversies: The Information Age (2003). 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=EJ3010298226&source=gale&srcprod=OVRC&userGroupName=mcc_mesa&version=1.0>.

This article from Opposing Viewpoints goes into great detail about many of the shortcomings of Internet filtering software. The author is a teacher, and has strong feelings about the issue. His points are valid, and he offers an extensive list of resources for more information.

Heins, Marjorie, Christina Cho, and Ariel Feldman. "Internet Filters: A Public Policy Report." Second ed. 2006. Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law. 5 Oct. 2007 <http://www.fepproject.org/policyreports/filters2.pdf>.

This lengthy report is an extremely thorough exploration of Internet filtering software and its use. The authors work for the Free Expression Policy Project, and are decidedly against the use of filters. They offer extensive documentation of court opinions, and numerous examples of ineffective blocking performed by filters. Seven actions are recommended for libraries to promote safe Internet use while complying with current law.

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 <http://ezp.mc.maricopa.edu:2048/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=eric&AN=EJ697382&site=ehost-live>.

This article addresses the challenges encountered with different levels of filtering. The respected author outlines the process used for determining what should be blocked to comply with the provisions of the law. He also identifies eight things that teachers and media specialists can do to facilitate proper Internet use in schools.

Jost, Kenneth. "Libraries and the Internet." The CQ Researcher 11.21 (2001): 465-88. CQ Researcher. CQ Press. Mesa Community Coll., Paul A. Elsner Lib. 2 Sept. 2007 <http://library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher/cqresrre2001060100>.

Subjects covered in this report include filtering and blocking of the Internet in public and school libraries, the Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA), and the strong opposition by members of the American Library Association (ALA).

Kravitz, Nancy. Censorship and the School Library Media Center. Libraries Unlimited Professional Guides in School Librarianship. Westport, Conn.: Libraries Unlimited, 2002.

As the title states, this book deals mainly with censorship. There is a section dealing with electronic resources that gives basic information about filtering. It lists the four main filtering options for schools, and has a full page of products available that have been reviewed by Consumer Reports. There are numerous links given for Internet Service Providers and Alternate Resources reprinted from Smartparent.com. Many of these links will be useful for my research.

"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>.

This article is presented by Opposing Viewpoints, and the author has a strong bias toward filtering. He was the president of Morality in Media when the article was written. There are strong assertions having to do with children’s exposure to pornography, but not many facts to back them up. It gives me a good idea about the opinions of the pro-filtering element of society.

McCarthy, David. "Internet Filtering for Schools - An Update." Media & Methods 41.6 (2005): 9-11. Education Research Complete. EBSCO. Mesa Community Coll., Paul A. Elsner Lib., Mesa, AZ. 12 Sept. 2007 <http://ezp.mc.maricopa.edu:2048/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=ehh&AN=17539411&site=ehost-live>.

The article describes ways a filter can be used, and explains “Content Web Filtering.” It also gives information about six filtering software products. It will help me explain how filtering software operates, and some of its unique features.

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 .

This article contains good information about teacher responses to filtering and its effect on research. It has a good bibliography, and the author worked with technology and online courseware for a university. It will help me understand the teacher point of view.

Smith, Mark. Neal-Schuman Internet Policy Handbook for Libraries. New York: Neal-Schuman, 1999. 75-98.

This book devotes an entire chapter to the pros and cons of filtering. The author includes information about relevant documents and rulings, and covers some of the choices available as far as filtering decisions go. There is a section detailing how the various software packages work, and a list of some of the major vendors. One very interesting part covers what some libraries choose to do as an alternative to filtering.

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. 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. I hope I can present the information in an interesting (and persuasive) manner for the audience.