April 30, 2003 cont'd
"A lot of issues that face the small library are the same as those that face any library," Mary Jo said. "How much technology has grown is a factor. A lot of people don't have computers at home; if they couldn't come to the library and use a computer they wouldn't have access to one. More and more in grade school and high school, they want reports done on computer. A lot of these kids don't have computers."
The library has seven computers available for use in the public area of the library, another eight computers in its computer lab. The library has been given a private donation to set up a computer lab and provide basic instruction in computer use. "We're fortunate," Mary Jo acknowledged. "I don't know of any other library in a community of our size that has a computer lab."
The Patriots Act is an issue the library faces. The government can come in and take computers to check their usage, she explained. "If we had any records on computer usage, they could take those as well. We have to be prepared for the fact that if the government comes in, we have to cooperate."
Another issue the library faces because of new technology: should libraries put filters on computers to restrict children's access to inappropriate sites? Technically, children have the same first amendment rights that adults do – for a long time that has been the American Library Association's stance," Mary Jo said. "This is what we have in our policy - if a parent is concerned about the sites his or her child might be accessing, it's the parent's responsibility to oversee the child's computer use, not the library's responsibility. We have parents sign a slip giving their child permission to use the computer and they acknowledged when they sign that it's their responsibility to monitor their children's internet use." The library's policy in this regard hasn't been challenged by anyone in the community.
There may be some self-censorship involved, Mary Jo acknowledges. Because the "public access" computers are located in an open area where it is relatively easy for someone to see the computer screens and what is on them, patrons may be reluctant to access inappropriate sites. "It wasn't designed that way, that's simply the way it ended up," Mary Jo said, "but it may act as a built-in monitor. Maybe it's a problem that is resolving itself."
"I think kids take computers for granted," Mary Jo said. "It's part of their lives. They've always had access to computers, they've grown up with them."
What issues does the small community face? "Well," Mary Jo said, "there's the tough economic times. The farmers are having a harder and harder time making a go of it, and that affects the whole community."
Education is strong in West Point, Mary Jo believes. "Kids are guided to go onto school. It's the exception that graduates don't go for additional education at a two-year or four-year college or technical school."
To be continued....
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