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Using the Internet Safely and Effectively

A Guide for Trustees of Public and Association Libraries in New York State

Public libraries provide a free people with the resources they need to read, learn, and connect to the full spectrum of ideas and information that is essential to our democracy. Free, unrestricted access to information is the cornerstone of the American public library movement, and libraries continually strive to provide a full range of information in all forms-including electronic information.
The proliferation of unregulated material on the Internet has triggered concern among some parents about Internet access for their children. Because more than 95 percent of the nation's public libraries offer Internet access to the public libraries are working to address those concerns without impinging on the First Amendment rights of their users.

Each library should have a Board-approved written policy to govern use of its computing resources, including public access to the Internet. Even when a public library system has a policy, it is important for individual libraries to have one as well. Equipment, facilities, and physical layout differ from building to building, often calling for variations in specific aspects of Internet policies.

Why Do Libraries Need an Internet Policy?

A written policy is necessary and beneficial for many reasons:

A clearly formulated policy enables the Library Board, the Library Director, and library staff to provide quality service to the community.
The library staff needs a framework of consistent procedures for the smooth day-to-day operation of the library.
Written policies help to ensure consistent, equitable treatment and fairness for library users and library staff.
A library with a clear, well-thought-out policy based on good professional, legal, and management principles, is far less likely to experience crises, bad public relations, staff turnover, and lawsuits.

How should a Library Develop a Policy?

A written policy should be clear, concise, legal and fair. It should also be in keeping with the mission and goals of the individual library. As a Board member, you should work with your Library Director and library staff in developing the policy.

Your Board should approve the final version, and then review it and revise it as needed-at least every two to three years, or more frequently if changes in technology or the library itself dictate policy changes. Revision is especially important in light of rapid developments in technology, products, and government versus self-regulation of the information industry.

Here are two approaches frequently used by Library Boards in developing an Internet policy:

Option 1: The Library Board can appoint an ad hoc committee that includes selected Board members, the Library Director, a staff member or two, and one or two members of the community to develop and draft the policy. It is often helpful to start with a sample policy and then adapt it to your library's specific needs. (Your library or library system can provide you with sample policies. Other sources for sample policies and resources are listed at the right.)

Option 2: Your Library Board can have the Library Director develop the policy and present it to the Board for review, discussion, revision and approval.
Whoever drafts the policy for the Board consideration; remember the following:

In addition to the Library Director, the library staff should provide input during development of the policy. Library personnel are most familiar with the day-to-day operations of the library, and will recognize issues and details that require attention in the policy.
Obtaining input from your community ensures that taxpayers have direct involvement in the services they are funding. However, the Board itself is ultimately responsible for approving, implementing, monitoring, evaluating, revising, and making the policy known to the public.
Have the attorney for the library review the policy to be sure that it violates no laws, such as the Americans with Disabilities Act, or provisions of the First Amendment. Make sure the policy reflects the Supreme Court CIPA decision.

Resources for Developing Policies

Filters and Filtering. ALA, 2004. Basic information on Filtering software. Includes links to CIPA information.

Kids Still Welcome Here: An Update of Public Library Policies That Promote the Use of Young People. NYLA, 2002. Information on library policies for youth as they are related to technology.

Libraries and the Internet Toolkit: Tips and Guidance for Managing and Communicating about the Internet. ALA, 2003. Help for creating an Internet use policy and information on CIPA and filtering software.

Peacefire Organization. Filters and libraries-philosophy and legal issues.

A Practical Guide to Internet Filters. Schneider, Karen, Neal-Schuman, 1997. ISBN 1-55570-322-4, 164 pp. A guide to understanding how filters work-and don't work. Suggestions for testing and using filters as well as in-depth evaluations for the 12 most commonly used filters.

Teaching and Marketing Electronic Information Literacy Programs: a How-to-do-it Manual for Librarians. Barclay, Donald, Neal-Schuman 2003.

Other Points to Consider

Here are some other important issues to consider as you develop an Internet policy and periodically review and update it. Awareness of Internet issues and a proactive attitude on the part of the Board and library staff can help your library avoid problems and serve your community as effectively as possible.

Think proactively. Develop a library web site with links to sources consistent with your library's mission.
Develop separate links for materials most useful to children and to teens.
Include the acceptable use policy, collection development policy, and selection criteria as a link from the website.
Be sure to inform library users of copyright laws that apply to the use of information from electronic resources.
Public and association libraries are public educational institutions that serve people of all ages, backgrounds, and beliefs. Limiting everyone's access to what is suitable for young children is not appropriate or legal.
Restrictions and limitations on time, place, and manner of use must apply equitably to all users according to the mission and goals of the library.
Laws prohibiting the production or distribution of child pornography and obscenity apply to the Internet. These laws provide protection for libraries and their users.
Understand that software filters don't filter everything objectionable, and often inadvertently block useful information. Different filters define which information will be blocked in different ways. If your library uses filtering software to comply with CIPA, you will need to examine filtering regularly.
In keeping with general library policies, an Internet policy should protect users' rights to privacy and confidentiality.
Rules governing Internet use must strive to balance the rights of users to access information with the rights of users to work in a public environment free form harassing sounds and visuals. Computer placement and such aids a privacy screens may offer a solution.

March 1999; revised June 2004

The University of the State of New York · The State Education Department
New York State Library · Cultural Education Center · Albany NY 12230-0001