[OPLINTECH] Internet Filtering & Networking.

[Mann, James H.]

Maria
GCPL has used Websense for several years now, and we continue to stick
with the product because it allows us to create multiple filtering
polices and assign those polices to a user, a work station or group of
work stations. 
Why is this important? Because CIPA requires all computers in your
library to be filtered, so you may want a global policy for staff and
the public, an unlimited policy for reference staff, a restricted policy
for your OPAC, and an "adult" policy for the patron who wants the filter
turned off. CIPA also does not apply to local polices regarding chat, or
games, or even (perish the thought) email. 
The real fly in the ointment is turning off the filter in a reasonable
time for adults over 17. I've seen products which maintain that the
patron themselves can disable the filter, but most libraries have set
the age limit for adult as 18 not 17 so turning off the filter by patron
type may not work.
Anyway, we're looking at a solution in which the patron reserves and
gets their computer, comes to the desk, presents an ID, and the staff
disables the filter for the duration of the patron's session.
Another problem I have is that because this was not a majority opinion,
and because the FCC has not issued clear guidelines, you get a lot of
analysis which hones in on a specific phrase from an individual justice
for a specific agenda. The key phrases are: (1) filters can easily be
unblocked (2) for research or (3) to permit over blocked sites.  How you
string these together creates very different policies and procedures.
Finally, I don't think you'll get a huge groundswell of patrons wanting
the filter turned off.
 
 
Jim Mann
Technology Coordinator
Greene County Public Library
76 East Market  Xenia OH 45385
(937) 376-2996 x210
 
-----Original Message-----
From: oplintech-admin at oplin.org [mailto:oplintech-admin at oplin.org] On
Behalf Of Roger O. Young
Sent: Wednesday, May 05, 2004 12:36 PM
To: Maria Wilburn; oplintech at oplin.org
Subject: Re: [OPLINTECH] Internet Filtering & Networking.
 
We have the Sonicwall appliance at Washington County Public Library, and
subscribe to their filtering solution as well.  The cost is about $1000
per year, I believe and well worth it.  There is a mechanism for turning
off the filtering for a limited block of time (30 minutes).  It
automatically returns to filtering at the end of that time, or if signed
out earlier.  A shortcut on the desktop lets staff easily access the
page to turn off filtering by typing in a password.  I have had no
complaints from staff about this.  Sometimes the filtering can be a bit
aggressive in blocking legitimate sites, but this is easily remedied
through the whitelist feature.  We have been pretty well satisfied with
it since we implemented it last July.
 
Roger O. Young
I T Coordinator
Washington County Public Library
	----- Original Message ----- 
	From: Maria Wilburn <mailto:wilburma at oplin.org>  
	To: oplintech at oplin.org 
	Sent: Wednesday, May 05, 2004 12:04 PM
	Subject: [OPLINTECH] Internet Filtering & Networking.
	 
	I'm the technology coordinator for the Carnegie Public Libraries
in Fayette County. In response to the upcoming filtering legislation
we're looking into adding filtering to our network. We currently have a
NT network and a Sonicwall Firewall appliance.  I was wondering what
filtering solutions other libraries are using successfully. My biggest
concern is the easy of use for my staff. The one big difficultly we see
is inconvenience of switching filtering off and on for "Adults" by
request.  
	 
	Also, our library is looking to upgrade our servers to a Windows
2000/03 systems.  I'd like to know if there are any good network
companies in the Columbus/Dayton area that are familiar with Library
networking needs, and filtering.
	 
	Any Help would be great. Please email me directly.
	 
	Maria Wilburn-Technology Coordinator
	Carnegie Public Library
	740-335-2540
	wilburma at oplin.org
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