IP: one library offers smartcard filtering as a service

[David Farber <farber () cis upenn edu>]

> X-Sender: mom () mail netmom com
> Date: Fri, 17 Sep 1999 10:59:14 -0400
> To: farber () cis upenn edu
> From: Jean Armour Polly <mom () netmom com>
> Subject:  one library offers smartcard filtering as a service
>
> Dear  Dave-- IPers may want to know about the Englewood Public 
> Library, near Denver. Since April they have offered a Smartcard 
> system and require that anyone under 18 have a parent encode a 
> smartcard so that the minor can access the Internet. The parent can 
> encode it for any of the following (quoted from their own web site)
>
> 1."Full" Internet Access - This level is unfiltered and 
> unrestricted. It is for adults over age 18 or for those under age 18 
> whose parents so designate. While this level provides full, open 
> access to the Internet, Web sites containing graphic nudity are not 
> to be viewed in the presence of children. Furthermore, viewing of 
> obscene sites is not permitted. Accessing such sites via the 
> Library's computers may result in the loss of an individual patron's 
> Internet privileges.
>
>    2."Filtered" Internet Access - This level is filtered to 
> eliminate the majority of obscene and pornographic web sites, 
> keeping in mind that no software filter is totally effective. It is 
> for those adults over age 18 or those under 18 whose parents so 
> designate. If a user feels that a particular site is inappropriately 
> blocked, he/she may request Library Staff to unblock said site. At 
> that time, Library Staff will, within reasonable time and workload 
> limits, examine the site in question and make the determination if 
> that site should remain blocked or be unblocked according to Library 
> policy.
>
>    3."Restricted" Internet Access - This level provides a limited 
> access to 5,000+"safe harbor" web sites and is primarily aimed at 
> patrons age 14 and under. Here, children and young adults can safely 
> search a wide variety of designated subjects but are unable to 
> "surf" out to other, non-specified Web sites. Within the next three 
> months, this level will be expanded to 15,000+ sites.
>
> Read more about it and its developers here
> http://www.ci.englewood.co.us/lib/smartcard.htm /
> Those wanting more info on the system might contact Englewood's 
> Director, Hank Long
> hlong () ci englewood co us
>
> Jean Armour Polly
> Author, The Internet Kids & Family Yellow Pages
> Coming in October-- the 4th edition!
> http://www.netmom.com/
> Net-mom is a Registered Service Mark of Jean Armour Polly.
> "Search engines are science, but directories are art."