[12789] in Public-Access_Computer_Systems_Forum
Re: A filtering survey
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Public-Access Computer Systems For)
Thu Mar 25 20:04:18 1999
Date: Thu, 25 Mar 1999 13:54:07 -0600
From: Public-Access Computer Systems Forum <LIBPACS@UHUPVM1.UH.EDU>
To: PACS-L@LISTSERV.UH.EDU
Reply-To: Public-Access Computer Systems Forum <PACS-L@LISTSERV.UH.EDU>
Date: Wed, 24 Mar 1999 09:18:18 -0500
From: Howard Pasternack <Howard_Pasternack@brown.edu>
Subject: Re: A filtering survey
While I am against filtering, I am also against shoddy library research.
This questionnaire is highly biased. I don't know what the "thesis" in the
opening paragraph refers to, but hopefully it is not sponsored by a library
school.
Take a look at question 5A about "using filter software to censor the
Internet". Nowhere does this questionnaire ask whether the respondent's
library uses filtering software and if so, why it uses filtering software.
Or which of the reasons the respondent agrees with.
Or the phrasing in question 7 which assumes that the filtering software
blocks access to legitimate research and requires the respondent to answer
negatively.
I don't want to start filtering debates on this listserv. But I would hope
that any questionnaire which tries to survey librarians opinions on this
topic does so objectively.
Howard Pasternack
Brown University
At 02:52 PM 3/23/99 -0600, you wrote:
>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>>Date: Mon, 22 Mar 1999 14:54:48 -0500
>>To: pubyac@nysernet.org
>>From: Kris Kepler <kristen@ccsd.edu>
>>Subject: A filtering survey
>>
>>>Date: Mon, 22 Mar 1999 11:12:56 -0500
>>>To: pubyac@nysernet.org
>>>From: Kris Kepler <kkepler@ccsd.edu>
>>>Subject: A filtering survey
>>>
>>>>Date: Fri, 19 Mar 1999 07:59:55 -0500
>>>>To: pubyac@nysernet.org
>>>>From: Kris Kepler <kristen@ccsd.edu>
>>>>Subject: A filtering survey
>>>>In-Reply-To: <602d1a95.36f06ab3@aol.com>
>>>>
>>>>I would really appreciate if you could take the time to fill out a
>questionnaire, all of your input would help a great deal! TIA!
>>>>
>>>>For our thesis, we are researching the existence of censorship in
>libraries. Censorship includes Internet filtering, book banning, and
>restriction of materials. The results from this survey will support or
>negate our hypothesis. All responses will be kept confidential, but
>results of the survey will be available to you if you ask.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>Questionnaire:
>>>>
>>>>1. What type of library do you serve? (i.e. school media center,
>public, academic, etc.)
>>>>
>>>>____________________________________________
>>>>
>>>>2. Are you male or female?
>>>>
>>>>______Male ______Female
>>>>
>>>>3. In what type of community does your library function?
>>>>
>>>>______Rural _______Suburban _______Urban
>>>>
>>>>4. Does your library have Internet access?
>>>>
>>>>______Yes ______No
>>>>
>>>>If no, skip to #12.
>>>>
>>>>5a. Does your library use filtering software to censor the Internet?
>>>>
>>>>______Yes ______No
>>>>
>>>>5b. Do you agree with this?
>>>>
>>>>______Yes ______No
>>>>
>>>>If you answered no to 5a, skip to #10.
>>>>
>>>>If you answered yes to 5a, what are the reasons your library uses an
>Internet filter? (Please list in order of importance.)
>>>>
>>>>__________________________________________________________
>>>>
>>>>__________________________________________________________
>>>>
>>>>__________________________________________________________
>>>>
>>>>__________________________________________________________
>>>>
>>>>6. Which filter do you use?
>>>>
>>>>___________________________________________________
>>>>
>>>>7. In your opinion, how often has legitimate research been blocked
>because of an Internet filter?
>>>>
>>>>_______Frequently
>>>>
>>>>_______Sometimes
>>>>
>>>>_______Almost Never
>>>>
>>>>_______Never
>>>>
>>>>8. What are some examples of searches that you or a patron were blocked
>from?
>>>>
>>>>__________________________________________________________
>>>>
>>>>__________________________________________________________
>>>>
>>>>9. Are you able to override the filter if necessary?
>>>>
>>>>_______Yes _______No
>>>>
>>>>10. Have you ever witnessed a patron accessing pornographic material in
>your library?
>>>>
>>>>_______Yes _______No
>>>>
>>>>11. Does your library have an acceptable use policy?
>>>>
>>>>_______Yes _______No
>>>>
>>>>If no, skip to #12.
>>>>
>>>>If yes, what are it's major components?
>>>>
>>>>__________________________________________________________
>>>>
>>>>__________________________________________________________
>>>>
>>>>__________________________________________________________
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>12. Have any legal challenges been made to any material, print or
>non-print, in your
>>>>library?
>>>>
>>>>______Yes ______No
>>>>
>>>>If yes, what was/were the material(s)?
>>>>
>>>>__________________________________________________________
>>>>
>>>>__________________________________________________________
>>>>
>>>>__________________________________________________________
>>>>
>>>>13. What was the outcome of the challenge?
>>>>
>>>> _______Censored _______Restricted
>______Uncensored
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>Additional Comments:
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>Thank You!
>>Please reply to kkepler@ccsd.edu
