Social networking has obviously changed the way that people access and spread information as well as the way that we communicate with each other and the change has been really rapid. According to the video, "ABC, NBC and CBS collectively have had 10 million visitors over the last 200 collective years while there are 250million visitors per month to Myspace, Youtube, and Facebook none of which existed 6 years ago." "There has been more video uploaded to Youtube in the last two months than if NBC, CBS, and ABC had been airing new content 24/7 365 days since 1948." "93% of American adults own cell phones and the average U.S. teen sends 2,272 texts per month.The above numbers are totally staggering and I haven't even addressed other services like Facebook, and Twitter, or RSS feeds, blogs, Google Images, itunes, etc. etc. To me, it's obvious that not only will libraries have to begin communicating with their patrons via some of these services but when they do begin using them, policies will have to be created to govern their use.
My specific library, because it's a high school library, needs to create policies surrounding Web 2.0 applications dealing specifically with intellectual property and copyright issues, privacy and digital footprints, safety, and acceptable use, online behavior and ethics. One of a library's responsibilities is to help students become good digital citizens. Parents and educators have always worked hard to teach students about copyright, privacy, safety, and ethics , in other words to become good citizens. Now it could be said that our students live in two worlds at once - a physical world and an online world therefore we must teach them to be citizens of both. Having policies in place to regulate and mediate issues regarding digital citizenship is a must.My current library has no such policies but I feel vulnerable without them.
Some policies will pertain to the library only but others need to be decided in conjunction with other departments. Internet filtering is such an area. Any U.S. school who receives some type of federal aid must agree to a strict filtering policy prior to receiving government funds. Libraries and IT departments must develop policies to fulfill government requirements while striving to have as open a policy as possible. The school I work at is a private school and therefore we're allowed to determine our filtering policy ourselves. Our school tries to employ a very open filtering policy. Not only is this a first amendment issue but teens are very good at bypassing internet filters. Honestly, I think it's more important to teach teens to be responsible users of the Internet rather than just block or impede their access. It makes more sense to have an open dialogue rather than creating walls and nurturing a culture of deceit or sneakiness.
Another issue to consider when developing policies aroung the Internet and social technologies is equal access to patrons. While many students have online access and the appropriate gear at home and school, there are still some students who do not. Therefor, it's necessary to create a structure that ensures those students without access at home receive ample access at school. The Internet is intrinsic to all students success and the library should be able to guarantee access to it for all patrons.
Everyone's access to online information and content is only going to grow more ubiquitous. The library must have policies in place to help our patrons be successful and responsible digital citizens, the library must provide equal access to online resources for all its patrons to the best of its ability. The library must strive to protect its patrons while allowing as much freedom of inquiry and expression as possible. Access to the Internet, to me, is a First Amendment issue. Policies allow the library to define its position and provides the necessary structure to deal with issues and concerns that arise from Internet use.
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