Blocking Access to Information and Ideas: The Use of Internet Filtering Software and Levels of Satisfaction in North American Schools

A primary purpose of the school library program is to enable young people to access and make effective use of information and ideas. This role has been enhanced through access to electronic resources. The Internet, however, is not a pre-selected menu of information sources deemed appropriate for children and young adults. Therefore, some libraries employ software to block or filter unfettered access to information. The purpose of this study was to measure the penetration of this filtering software in North America, to ascertain which types of software are used, and to determine librarians' levels of satisfaction.

An analysis of American public libraries’ policies on patron use of Internet pornography

Drawing on and expanding previous graduate course research, this paper investigated and analyzed public libraries’ policies regarding patron use of legal, visual Internet pornography on public computers. Pornographic imagery that falls within legal boundaries is protected by the First Amendment. Incidents of, and library responses to, pornography viewing are not a new issue and have caused turmoil across the field of library and information science. In an attempt to understand the problem, the research question asks: how do public libraries respond to patrons viewing legal Internet pornography, while upholding First Amendment rights as well as the Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA) and other legal requirements? Libraries tread a fine line to protect First Amendment rights, respect community laws, and uphold CIPA. Research indicated that responding to Internet pornography use in public libraries is heavily dependent on individual, community and library values. Policies are more likely to prohibit patrons from accessing Internet pornography, and most libraries have at least some Internet filtering software restricting what content may be accessed on public use computers. However, evidence also suggests that regardless of policy or filters, library staff will at some point encounter a patron accessing Internet pornography.

Impact of Blockchain on China’s Cyber Statecraft: Opportunities and Risks

Since 2016, China has officially regarded blockchain technology as a subversive innovation that will fundamentally transform major industries. Current blockchain projects in China are dominated by private or consortium blockchains that have their accessibility firmly controlled; for public blockchains such as Bitcoin and Ethereum, access is free for all. Not surprisingly, by weakening state control of digital data, public blockchains may neutralise China’s decades of efforts in building internet filtering systems. The existing development trajectory of private and consortium blockchains is likely to advance steadfastly, and citizens and companies in China may be required to use state-controlled blockchains.

Delisting and ethics in the library

Traditional librarian ethics protect privacy and promote information access. The right to be forgotten and delisting have the potential to create a new online information ecosystem that disrupts ethical norms and redefines the role of librarians. Along with Internet filtering, the right to be forgotten and delisting are the harbingers of coming changes to content regulation and information access online. Librarians should engage with right to be forgotten F and delisting issues now to prepare for possible future disruptions of information flow in the library and shifts in information policies and laws around the world. This paper articulates the legal and ethical issues associated with delisting, lays the foundation for an international dialogue on delisting, and signals the need for future research. The international librarianship community needs a larger discussion about the issues related to the right to be forgotten and delisting, particularly on laws and policies on free speech and privacy.

Universal and Specific Codes of Cultural Context in Audio-Visual Media

Mission of the chapter is to draw the attention to how specific and universal cultural contexts influence audio-visual media used in technology-enhanced language learning (TELL) and how additional efforts in this area from both faculty and students might give very satisfying and rich results, both drawing from cultural differences to ensure the mutual enrichment and appealing to universal basic principles that could be understood in different cultures more or less similarly and/or identical. As audio-visual media nowadays finds its way as a large area of the internet, filtering what is suitable for TELL and what might not be depends a lot on cultural context of media, which should be chosen wisely depending on situation and curriculum. Also included are the recommendations, based on authors' experience in the field of study, and a vast array of background information.