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'You don’t come to the library to look at porn and stuff like that': filtering software in public libraries
journal contribution
posted on 2014-08-13, 09:21 authored by Louise Cooke, Rachel E. Spacey, Claire Creaser, Adrienne MuirShould public libraries filter the content of internet services offered to their users? We discuss this question in the light of findings from the AHRC-funded MAIPLE project, which has been investigating measures taken by UK Public Library Services to manage public internet provision in their libraries. Initial findings suggest that filtering software is extensively used, and that librarians and users alike are mostly content with this solution. It could be argued that this position is at odds with our professional and ethical duties towards clients to provide uninhibited access to information and ideas. However, we recognise the social norms and realities in which services must operate and go on to discuss clear and transparent policies and procedures that public libraries might adopt to mitigate the potential for misuse of their internet facilities.
Funding
MAIPLE is funded by a grant from the Arts and Humanities Research Council [AHRC].
History
School
- Business and Economics
Department
- Business
Published in
Library and Information ResearchVolume
38Issue
117Pages
5 - 19 (15)Citation
COOKE, L. ... (et al.), 2014. 'You don’t come to the library to look at porn and stuff like that': filtering software in public libraries. Library and Information Research, 38 (117), pp. 5-19.Publisher
© CILIPVersion
- AM (Accepted Manuscript)
Publication date
2014ISSN
1756-1086eISSN
1756-1086Publisher version
Language
- en