Clearinghouse of Professional Information

Public Internet Access

This section provides links to a variety of levels of information that public libraries require when dealing with issues around public Internet access, as well as maintaining websites. You may also want to consult our Technology Planning Resources page
 

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Topics include

General Resources | Censorship | Evaluating Web Sites | Federal Initiatives | Filtering | Internet Acceptable Use Policies | Issues |  Networking with other professionals | Public Access Control  | Usage studies | Web Site Design | Web Standards | Wireless Access (Libraries with)

	indicates an item written by SOLS staff		indicates an item written by OLS-North staff
Clicking on certain topics will open a new window, if the link is to a topic included in an other Clearinghouse page

General Resources

• American Library Association. Libraries and the Internet Tool Kit  Tips and guidance for managing and communicating about the Internet
• CLA's  Net Safe; Net Smart: Managing and Communicating About the Internet in the Library  (The Canadian Library Association) Web-based Toolkit on managing and communicating about the Internet in the library.
• CLA Statement on Internet Access   Revised February 2000
• CLA Statement on Intellectual Freedom
• CLA Statement Information and Telecommunication Access Principles Position Statement
• Cybersmart materials for public libraries (Australia Communications and Media Authority) provides library staff with the information, support and tools to effectively promote internet safety in Australian public libraries—especially for children. The resources were developed in conjunction with the Australian Library and Information Association and Australian public libraries. The materials aim to complement existing policies in libraries and provide additional resources and support to library staff.
• IFLA Digital Reference Guidelines The purpose of these guidelines is to promote digital reference best practices on an international basis.
• IFLA Internet Manifesto Full of  good persuasive arguments in favour of  the library profession's commitment to unhindered access to information. 
• Media Awareness Network. Web Awareness for Librarians
• OLA Statement on the Intellectual Rights of the Individual (Ontario Library Association)
• OLITA Internet Access Toolkit  (Ontario Library and Information Technology Association)

Evaluating Web Sites 

• Evaluation Criteria (New Mexico State University Library)
• Evaluating Information Found on the Internet. Entrepreneurial Library Program at Sheridan Libraries of Johns Hopkins University.
• Evaluating Web Pages: Techniques to Apply and Questions to Ask (UC Berkeley) 
• Great Websites for Kids.  Selection Criteria (ALA)
• YALSA Criteria for Web Site Links (ALA's Young Adult Services Division)  

Internet Acceptable Use Policies 

• Acceptable Use Policies for Internet Use. What is an Acceptable Use Policy? (Media Awareness Network) 
• Children and the Internet: Policies That Work (ALA. Association for Library Service to Children) The links were selected to provide you with a chance to view different styles and approaches to writing public library Internet access policies. Some of the policies listed link to state and federal regulations that support the documents, others provide information on what happens if a customer behaves inappropriately, and others are simple outlines of appropriate use. All were updated and revised within the past three years.

Ontario Public Libraries AUP (Acceptable Use Policies) 

• Brantford Public Library Internet Access Program. Scroll down to their Social Software Policy
• Burlington Public Library - Internet Access Policy
• Cornwall Public Library. Access Policy and  Public Internet User Agreement
• Kingston Frontenac Public Library Internet Policy
• Ottawa Public Library. Revised Public Internet Access Policy et Politique sur l'accès public à Internet. version révisée
• Waterloo Public Library. Internet and Computer Policy

Issues

• Fact sheet on Protecting Your Privacy on the Internet (Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada)
• The Internet: Issues for the Library Board (.pdf)   SOLS Trustee Tips #18, November 1999
• Librarians' caught in the Net (The Free Radical)

Censorship/ Intellectual Freedom:

• Internet Censorship in Public Libraries (Canadian Internet Policy and Public Interest Clinic (CIPPIC)
• Two City Councilors and Members of the Board of Trustees of the London Public Library receive Award for the Advancement of Intellectual Freedom in Canada (CLA) May 2008

Filtering:

• Filtering Facts A website and blog dedicated to all things related to filtering software, including news, technology, Internet safety, legal developments, public policy issues, and the companies that manufacture filtering software. Filtering Facts is designed to serve as both a reference site for those interested in filtering software, as well as a blog focused on breaking news related to filtering software.
• GetNetWise (Internet Education Foundation)  A resource for families and caregivers to help kids have safe, educational, and entertaining online experiences.
• Internet Filter Software Review 2009  A comprehensive report of the TOP 10 Internet Filters available
• Peacefire:  (anti-filtering proponent site). Blocking software reports.
• Signage for Public and school designated Computers in public/School libraries. (New brunswick Public Library Service)

Public Access Control  (not recommendations - examples only)

• CybraryN  Public Access Security and Control   
• Pharos: Uniprint Software that monitors, measures controls, costs and optionally charges for all IT networked resources 

Usage Studies

• Canadian Internet User Survey (Statistics Canada) Daily June 12, 2008
• "What Are Public Library Customers Viewing on the Internet? An Analysis of Burnaby Transaction Logs" at the Burnaby (B.C.) Public Library. March 2000. By Dr. Ann Curry (UBC). It presents a very detailed look at how the Internet is used in the public library setting.

Wireless Access

See also our Technology Planning Resources page

• Brockville Public Library. Wireless Access Policy (.pdf)
• Burlington Public Library. Wireless Access Access. See Limitations and Disclosures section
• Sauers, M. « Four Commandments for Writing Policies for Public-Access Wireless Networks.» Computers in Libraries v. 26 no. 3 (March 2006) p. 16-18, 20   (Wilson Web)
• WiFi HotSpot (Kitchener Public Library)
• Wireless Fidelity Internet Access Service at Angus Glen Library (Markham Public Library) List of FAQ's
• OPL Interim Wireless Policies (Ottawa Public Library) Directives temporaires pour les services d’accès sans fil de la BPO

Z39.50

• Z39.50 Maintenance Agency Page (Library of Congress)
• Z39.50 - An Overview of the Z39.50 Information Retrieval Standard by Fay Turner, National Library of Canada
• Z39.50 Resource Page. National Information Standards Organization