From:      "Melora Ranney" melora@prexar.com
To:        cipa-study@ntia.doc.gov
Date:      Sat, Aug 10, 2002  7:28 AM
Subject:   CIPA survey response

> 1) The development and effectiveness of local Internet safety policies
> currently in operation after community input

Libraries had good policies and children were well served before NCIPA; the
legislation was unnecessary.  Most Maine communities are small and people
know one another and work together closely.  If there were any unsafe
situations in libraries then communities worked together with their
libraries to address the problems with or without CIPA and NCIPA.  Parents
would not tolerate it if their libraries were unsafe for children; mandated
hearings were redundant.  Thanks to NCIPA, libraries wasted precious scarce
resources scrambling around in confusion trying to figure out how to meet
requirements which basically didn't change anything they were doing.  Thanks
to CIPA, schools which were having very good luck using supervision and
monitoring software to administer Internet services are no longer doing so
because they can't afford to do without E-rate money.  The whole thing is a
waste of taxpayer money that would be better spend educating the public and
library staff on how to use the Internet wisely and well and investing in
tools and resources that provide information instead of interfering with its
provision.  If CIPA is upheld by the Supreme Court then almost all public
libraries in Maine will end up being forced to use something and spend money
they can't afford on something they do not need.

> 2) How to foster development of measures that meet such needs

Fund libraries so that they can adequately staff children's areas with
caring, qualified individuals who will help children find the materials and
information they need and design children's areas in library buildings that
are conducive to good computer use and support.

> 3) Whether currently available technology protection measures adequately
> address the needs of educational institutions, including libraries, in
> protecting children's safety on the Internet

There are free filters available on the Internet and we use a combination of
bookmarks, web design, working with parents and education to guide children
and teach people how to use them.  I have evaluated a variety of blocking
software and heard from school librarians and decided that the problems
caused by the way the software doesn't work makes it worse than useless.
Blocking software gets in the way of legitimate research and protects noone.
Children need caring and technologically aware adults to help them use the
Internet effectively; this is the only safety mechanism required in
libraries.


Melora Ranney
Charles M. Bailey Public Library
Winthrop, Maine