Post #1-Restricting MySpace At Public Libraries

For class, we read the article, MySpace Can Be Our Space, by Christopher Harris and he mentions this social network has been given a lot of negative attention by the TV media and many people would like to see this social network banned from schools.  He mentions great examples on how MySpace can be used effectively in school and it could be used as a teaching tool.  An art class can post and display student’s artwork and a social studies class can discuss an important topic on-line.  This is an appropriate way of using modern technology and creating intelligent dialogues between students.

A recent article posted on May 10, 2007, to the Editor of a North Carolina newspaper called the Raleigh Chronicle, http://www.raleighchronicle.com/2007051007.html, announced that all of the public libraries in Wake County North Carolina have blocked the use of MySpace on the public library’s computers.  The concerned writer, Patrick Minnock, makes a an important point about removing this privilege of using MySpace freely on the computers of public libraries, “It’s unreasonable  and it’s a massive part of many public library user’s lives and it’s a modern way of communicating.“  This is true, it’s not right to ban the library users from viewing websites of their choice.  Library users should be allowed to view and seek the information they please freely and without a control of a made up policy or filter. 

By now families have become familiar with the use of the Internet and the education should begin at home with parents informing their children about the proper usage of the web and parents should also be monitoring their children’s Internet habits.As future librarians, we should start educating and informing our public and library staffs about the benefits and concerns that occur while using today’s technology.  Today’s technology has a broad connection to valuable information and teaching experiences.  

Public libraries should compile safe and fair policies for their library users. It is a big concern to control and stop the dangers that appear on the Internet and in networks such as MySpace, but completely banning the usage to the public is unfair because not everyone has Internet available at home.  Even if they do have access to the Internet at home, everyone who comes into the public library, young or mature, should feel welcomed and comfortable accessing the information of their choice freely and without restrictions.

~ by Pretty Hip Librarian on May 22, 2007.