Maywin’s S640 Blog Posting #5
More on Filtering
Unfortunately, Censorship can be strongly motivated by the fear of losing control over children rather then by the concern their childrens’ moral development. Many times fear can cause people to overreact; especially when their own children are involved.
Thinking back, I raised two children by myself, and I remembered the anxious feelings I experienced whenever my girls were exposed to outside influences. Now, the outside influences can be right in our own homes. This was illustrated by Shellie's experience with her daughter and their computer. She was understandably anxious when, for just a few seconds, her child may have observed questionable content surrounding a popular children’s character. Her natural instinct as a parent kicked in and she quickly talked with her child in order to get a better picture of the things she saw, and to explain the situation to her child as well as she could under the circumstances.
Regarding the filtering issue I realize there are extremists such as the Christian Right, in every nook and cranny; however, I truly understand the parental side of the censorship/filtering/IF issues. I can also understand how intelligent people can and do support having filters in the library. Maybe the parents who do not monitor their children as closely as Shellie and others like her, would feel more secure knowing their children were safe (with safe including filtering) in their neighborhood library. I say this based on my experience with people who leave their children unattended in libraries. Responsible parents don’t do this; Irresponsible parents do.
And, if I am just now learning about the plus and minuses of the filtering process, you can believe there are many more people out there who do not know these things. Or at least not both sides of the issue.
We are right back to the importance of education and advocacy. How are people going to learn to make educated choices if no one is there to teach them? It seems that librarians have a lot on their plates.
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
S554 Maywin Jackson's Blog Posting #4
Maywin Jackson S554 Blog Posting #4
Since groups have been assigned and we have started thinking about our own group’s responsibilities along with our responsibilities in connection to all the other groups, I feel less
at-a-loss. Or maybe I mean I just feel a little more focused.
First, knowing that our project Wiki for Work will target many people, and will have to be built to serve various user needs seems pretty challenging. However, as I have experienced in the past, these types of projects are usually of better quality as the result of a team effort.
Just during the last few minutes of our Friday the 13th class, ideas were, again, flying around, but for me they made more sense as I could see some connection to a more tangible project.
It will be very interesting to learn about each other and just group dynamics in general.
I have worked on other similar group projects and have been quite surprised about some things I learned. For instance, I had no idea that the typical or average reading level of this country’s population is seventh grade and lower. The Digital Divide; What about the Literacy Divide? This is a little humbling since we are supposed to be such an advanced country. I learned this fact a couple of years ago and am still chewing it over.
I am so glad that there are people who are much more technologically advanced than I am, but maybe I should have taken Dr. Ball’s advice and signed up for a more difficult aspect of the project in order to be more challenged.
However, I may end up being more challenged than I expect, which is fine.
Since groups have been assigned and we have started thinking about our own group’s responsibilities along with our responsibilities in connection to all the other groups, I feel less
at-a-loss. Or maybe I mean I just feel a little more focused.
First, knowing that our project Wiki for Work will target many people, and will have to be built to serve various user needs seems pretty challenging. However, as I have experienced in the past, these types of projects are usually of better quality as the result of a team effort.
Just during the last few minutes of our Friday the 13th class, ideas were, again, flying around, but for me they made more sense as I could see some connection to a more tangible project.
It will be very interesting to learn about each other and just group dynamics in general.
I have worked on other similar group projects and have been quite surprised about some things I learned. For instance, I had no idea that the typical or average reading level of this country’s population is seventh grade and lower. The Digital Divide; What about the Literacy Divide? This is a little humbling since we are supposed to be such an advanced country. I learned this fact a couple of years ago and am still chewing it over.
I am so glad that there are people who are much more technologically advanced than I am, but maybe I should have taken Dr. Ball’s advice and signed up for a more difficult aspect of the project in order to be more challenged.
However, I may end up being more challenged than I expect, which is fine.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Maywin's S640 Blog Post #4
Maywin’s S640 Blog Posting #4
Ethics of Librarianship
In their day to day work lives, librarians incorporate ethical behavior toward the public in various ways. For instance, one patron comes in and very quietly whispers a request for medical information about HIV aids. From their demeanor it is obvious they do not want their request to be overheard. Or, a teenager requests a book on suicide; a man wants “How to Do Your Own Divorce” forms, and so on. Therapists, MD’s, and others who counsel the public take oaths promising to keep their patients’ information confidential. Librarians also work to treat their public/patrons with high standards as set forth by the ALA. They, too, implement their own agreement/oath as established by the profession in order to “protect the library user’s right to privacy and confidentiality,” (IFM 245).
I was sitting in the dentist chair last week and had the IFM with me. My dentist asked me what it was, and I told him. He had no idea what I was talking about in terms of the connection between IF and libraries/librarians. Onto my soap box I did jump. Well whenever I had a free mouth anyway. In the span of a cleaning and a flouriding, he heard: (a condensed version of) the process of challenging library materials, patrons’ privacy, confidentiality, and so on.
The whole discourse brought me back to Dr. Ball’s, comment about advocacy taking many shapes.
I am proud to say that many of the librarians I know conduct themselves in ethical professionalism on a daily basis.
Ethical behavior of librarians weaves its way into so many areas and is discussed in Moya K. Mason’s article, “The Ethics of Librarianship: Dilemmas Surrounding Libraries, Intellectual Freedom, and Censorship in the Face of Colossal Technological Progression.” Author Mason states: “Librarians often decide the direction that an inquiry will take and therefore it is necessary that librarians continually strive not to let personal judgments interfere with their professional activities.”
Ethics of Librarianship
In their day to day work lives, librarians incorporate ethical behavior toward the public in various ways. For instance, one patron comes in and very quietly whispers a request for medical information about HIV aids. From their demeanor it is obvious they do not want their request to be overheard. Or, a teenager requests a book on suicide; a man wants “How to Do Your Own Divorce” forms, and so on. Therapists, MD’s, and others who counsel the public take oaths promising to keep their patients’ information confidential. Librarians also work to treat their public/patrons with high standards as set forth by the ALA. They, too, implement their own agreement/oath as established by the profession in order to “protect the library user’s right to privacy and confidentiality,” (IFM 245).
I was sitting in the dentist chair last week and had the IFM with me. My dentist asked me what it was, and I told him. He had no idea what I was talking about in terms of the connection between IF and libraries/librarians. Onto my soap box I did jump. Well whenever I had a free mouth anyway. In the span of a cleaning and a flouriding, he heard: (a condensed version of) the process of challenging library materials, patrons’ privacy, confidentiality, and so on.
The whole discourse brought me back to Dr. Ball’s, comment about advocacy taking many shapes.
I am proud to say that many of the librarians I know conduct themselves in ethical professionalism on a daily basis.
Ethical behavior of librarians weaves its way into so many areas and is discussed in Moya K. Mason’s article, “The Ethics of Librarianship: Dilemmas Surrounding Libraries, Intellectual Freedom, and Censorship in the Face of Colossal Technological Progression.” Author Mason states: “Librarians often decide the direction that an inquiry will take and therefore it is necessary that librarians continually strive not to let personal judgments interfere with their professional activities.”
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
S554 Blog Posting #3 Floundering
Hello again class. Since we are not yet in the thick of our projects, I will just talk a little about my feelings about last week's class.
First, I appreciated Dr. Ball's comments about the positive aspects of floundering. and struggling during the learning process. She is so right...I am the queen of flounderers (sp?) and strugglers. However, during our last (my first) class, I heard a lot of very intelligent and rapid fire comments. (Not quite what Garfield calls 'snappy patter,'), but enough to be just a tad intimidating. Was anyone else kind of out to sea last Friday or was it just me?
Even though I have taken a couple of project management classes I still get just a little weak in the knees when I think about teams working toward a deadline. In a way it's fun. But then it can also be frustrating and extremely challenging.
Just FYI, I am a pretty good writer/editor in case anyone needs an anal retentive English major- type on their team.
I really like having blogs included in classes..they give you another way to communicate. It's hard to do that in class, and most people do not have a lot of time to get together in a community college setting.
Also, I really liked the Adobe Connect class, but I would imagine having to monitor and control the Connect class would not be as enjoyable as just being a part of it.
First, I appreciated Dr. Ball's comments about the positive aspects of floundering. and struggling during the learning process. She is so right...I am the queen of flounderers (sp?) and strugglers. However, during our last (my first) class, I heard a lot of very intelligent and rapid fire comments. (Not quite what Garfield calls 'snappy patter,'), but enough to be just a tad intimidating. Was anyone else kind of out to sea last Friday or was it just me?
Even though I have taken a couple of project management classes I still get just a little weak in the knees when I think about teams working toward a deadline. In a way it's fun. But then it can also be frustrating and extremely challenging.
Just FYI, I am a pretty good writer/editor in case anyone needs an anal retentive English major- type on their team.
I really like having blogs included in classes..they give you another way to communicate. It's hard to do that in class, and most people do not have a lot of time to get together in a community college setting.
Also, I really liked the Adobe Connect class, but I would imagine having to monitor and control the Connect class would not be as enjoyable as just being a part of it.
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Maywin's S640 Blog Posting #3
Maywin’s S640 Blog Posting #3
First, unless filtering has undergone a miraculous change and can magically block all things deemed by everyone as pornographic, or at least the ones set down by CIPA, as far as I am concerned, there is no need for filtering.
I think Nancy Kranich makes a good point when she suggests we remember the core values of libraries:
Equity of access
Privacy
Democracy
Diversity
Education
Intellectual Freedom
Service
The author mentions that both pornography and swimming pools are hazardous (dangerous) for children. Teaching children to swim lessens their danger of drowning, but protecting children from pornography or dangerous websites is not quite as simple. However, I get that she is saying education is important in both situations.
Another aspect of filtering that concerns me is where and from whom do libraries get their filtering software?
For example, in the article, “Internet Filtering Companies with Religious Affiliations in the Context of Indiana Public Libraries,” author Rachel Radom talks about how 15.9% of Indiana Public libraries use filtering software provided by conservative religious organizations. (In 2005). This makes me wonder about the status of affiliations between public libraries and filtering in general. Does the acceptance of E-Rate funding mean that libraries have to take what software the government selects for them or do they choose their own?
First, unless filtering has undergone a miraculous change and can magically block all things deemed by everyone as pornographic, or at least the ones set down by CIPA, as far as I am concerned, there is no need for filtering.
I think Nancy Kranich makes a good point when she suggests we remember the core values of libraries:
Equity of access
Privacy
Democracy
Diversity
Education
Intellectual Freedom
Service
The author mentions that both pornography and swimming pools are hazardous (dangerous) for children. Teaching children to swim lessens their danger of drowning, but protecting children from pornography or dangerous websites is not quite as simple. However, I get that she is saying education is important in both situations.
Another aspect of filtering that concerns me is where and from whom do libraries get their filtering software?
For example, in the article, “Internet Filtering Companies with Religious Affiliations in the Context of Indiana Public Libraries,” author Rachel Radom talks about how 15.9% of Indiana Public libraries use filtering software provided by conservative religious organizations. (In 2005). This makes me wonder about the status of affiliations between public libraries and filtering in general. Does the acceptance of E-Rate funding mean that libraries have to take what software the government selects for them or do they choose their own?
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Blog Posting #2
Maywin A. Jackson
S554 Blog Posting #2
Due Feb. 6
Hanging around my neighborhood library watching librarians interact with patrons of all ages, shows me that I really need all the current technical help I can get. The next gens, the baby boomers, teens, tweens, all have such different skill sets and needs. For instance, a baby boomer may need help with word processing or spreadsheets; other patrons may need to find an instructional website; or learn how to IM, and of course, gaming is huge. This class offers me much needed challenges from learning how to apply screen captures, to using podcast tools. In addition, building case studies of an integrated library system, developing a project, and evaluating and testing next generation library catalogs, should just about complete a well rounded LIS education. Except, of course, keeping abreast of any and all ongoing changes in technology that need to be learned just nanoseconds after mastering the current ones.
Although each new technical aspect can be very challenging for me, I feel wonderful when I master something new. Also, my grandsons are so impressed with me when I help them with certain things like Word processing and such.
I am in another of Dr. Ball’s classes which covers Intellectual Freedom issues, and I am trying to master recording and embedding a podcast into the class wiki.
As I improve my skill set, I have been able to help other seniors get comfortable with techy things so they can also be a part of today’s technology either through online communications or in using Excel, Access, or Powerpoint.
S554 Blog Posting #2
Due Feb. 6
Hanging around my neighborhood library watching librarians interact with patrons of all ages, shows me that I really need all the current technical help I can get. The next gens, the baby boomers, teens, tweens, all have such different skill sets and needs. For instance, a baby boomer may need help with word processing or spreadsheets; other patrons may need to find an instructional website; or learn how to IM, and of course, gaming is huge. This class offers me much needed challenges from learning how to apply screen captures, to using podcast tools. In addition, building case studies of an integrated library system, developing a project, and evaluating and testing next generation library catalogs, should just about complete a well rounded LIS education. Except, of course, keeping abreast of any and all ongoing changes in technology that need to be learned just nanoseconds after mastering the current ones.
Although each new technical aspect can be very challenging for me, I feel wonderful when I master something new. Also, my grandsons are so impressed with me when I help them with certain things like Word processing and such.
I am in another of Dr. Ball’s classes which covers Intellectual Freedom issues, and I am trying to master recording and embedding a podcast into the class wiki.
As I improve my skill set, I have been able to help other seniors get comfortable with techy things so they can also be a part of today’s technology either through online communications or in using Excel, Access, or Powerpoint.
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