Here in West Lothian, we provide multiple internet access from all of our
libraries via a filtering package called I-Gear.
Despite its claims to sophistication, it does cause occasional problems for
users by denying access to the most innocuous of sites. We do have a
policy of fast response to complaints about access to sites, and have spent
time in the last year in fine tuning the software to accommodate complaints
and problems.
Following discussion on this list about filtering in general we finally
decided to conduct a survey of adult users to ask them what THEY think.
Attached below is a copy of the letter which went out to a sample of users,
and the results of the survey.
We are not claiming that the results are conclusive or even significant
statistically, since the only spread we attempted was a geographical one
and the response was slightly disappointing. The results are however,
interesting, indeed in my opinion, surprising, and the only pointer we
have
to public opinion in this area. Because of this fact we will probably use
this
as our authority to continue to use filtering for adult access.
George Kerr
Support Services Manager
West Lothian Libraries
1. The letter
Dear Library User,
I am contacting you because you are recorded on our system as someone who
has registered as an internet user and we are seeking your opinion.
You may be aware that at present all internet access in West Lothian
libraries is filtered. The reason for this is not in any sense to impose
some sort of 'acceptable' or 'consensus' point of view on internet users,
but rather to try to prevent displays on public screens which could be
interpreted as offending public decency or indeed displays which might be
in conflict with the law.
The filtering package used is fairly sophisticated but by the very nature
of what it tries to do, inevitably situations arise where access is denied
to internet sites, which upon examination prove to have no content which
could be construed as unacceptable. There are a variety of reasons for
this caused by the nature of the software, but the end result is that we
can never eliminate the possibility that users can end up embarrassed and
frustrated by being denied access to required internet sites.
Of course if problems are reported we can enable future access but this is
not something which can be arranged quickly so this is not the perfect
solution.
The other option available could be to abandon filtering for adult users.
West Lothian Council would still wish to have the right to insist that
users should not deliberately access 'offensive' material or that they
immediately remove any such material from screens if they inadvertantly
access it whilst using the internet. This is of course because of the
public nature of the screens and the possibility that children might be in
the vicinity. In our experience there could be a significant number of
occasions where users might access such material, with the resultant
embarrassment this could cause to users. The positive gain would be that
access to requested screens would not be denied by the system.
As you can see the whole situation is a 'trade off' with pros and cons on
both sides of the argument. What we would like is your opinion as a
library internet user. I would be obliged if you could use the tear-off
slip to record your opinion and post it back to us in the enclosed pre paid
envelope.
2. The results
West Lothian Libraries
Survey to establish internet user opinion concerning use of 'I-Gear'
filtering for adult users
September/October 2000
Total Internet members 3500
Adult internet members 2386
Forms sent out 500 ( 21% of adult internet members)
Forms returned 92 (18.4%)
Opinions expressed
Prefer to continue with filtered access 65 (70.6%)
Prefer to discontinue filtered access 27 (29.4%)
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