The Internet has dramatically changed the way we gather, manage and process information. Filters were designed in response to a wave of concern over children's accessibility to objectionable content on the Internet. Filtering is a "device or material for suppressing or minimizing waves or oscillations of certain frequencies" (Miltner, 2004). Content filtering began as a way for parents to monitor inappropriate material found on home computers but has now expanded to include businesses, private and public educational institutions, government agencies, Internet Service Providers (ISP), non-profit agencies, churches, etc. Librarians have historically been able to manage the scope of their library "collections" but with the advent of the Internet, individuals are increasingly able to manage the selection of their own information sources. Internet access is available at almost all of the 16,000 public libraries across the country with over 14 million Americans using their public libraries for Internet access (Miltner, 2004)(Jaeger et al, 2004). For purposes of this project, we will examine Internet filtering in general, a timeline of its history, technology and future, with specific attention paid to filters in the public library setting.

 

 

 

References

Jaeger, P.T., Bertot, J.C., & McClure, C.R. (2004). The Effects of the Children's Internet Protection Act (CIPA) in Public Libraries and Its Implications for Research: A Statistical, Policy, and Legal Analysis. Journal of the American Society for Information Science and Technology, 55(13), 1131-1139.

Miltner, K.A. (2004). Discriminatory Filtering: CIPA's Effect on Our Nation's Youth and Why the Supreme Court Erred in Upholding the Constitutionality of The Children's Internet Protection Act. Federal Communications Law Journal, 57, 555-578.