Regulating internet access in UK public libraries: legal compliance and ethical dilemmas
| Pages | 87-104 |
| Published date | 14 March 2016 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/JICES-02-2015-0005 |
| Date | 14 March 2016 |
| Author | Adrienne Muir,Rachel Spacey,Louise Cooke,Claire Creaser |
| Subject Matter | Information & knowledge management,Information management & governance |
Regulating internet access in UK
public libraries: legal compliance
and ethical dilemmas
Adrienne Muir
Department of English, Drama and Publishing, Loughborough University,
Loughborough, UK
Rachel Spacey
Vice-Chancellor’s Ofce, University of Lincoln, Lincoln, UK
Louise Cooke
Centre for Information Management, School of Business and Economics,
Loughborough University, Loughborough, UK, and
Claire Creaser
School of Business and Economics, Loughborough University,
Loughborough, UK
Abstract
Purpose – This paper aims to consider selected results from the Arts and Humanities Research Council
(AHRC)-funded “Managing Access to the internet in Public Libraries” (MAIPLE) project, from 2012-2014.
MAIPLE has explored the ways in which public library services manage use of the internet connections that
they provide for the public. This included the how public library services balance their legal obligations and
the needs of their communities in a public space and the ethical dilemmas that arise.
Design/methodology/approach – The researchers used a mixed-method approach involving a
review of the literature, legal analysis, a questionnaire survey and case studies in ve public library
authorities.
Findings – UK public library services use a range of methods to regulate internet access. The research
also conrms previous ndings that ltering software is an ubiquitous tool for controlling access to and
protecting library users from “inappropriate”, illegal and harmful internet content. There is a general, if
sometimes reluctant, acceptance of ltering software as a practical tool by library staff, which seems to
contrast with professional codes of ethics and attitudes in other countries. The research indicates that
public library internet access will be a valued service for some time to come, but that some aspects of
how public library services regulate internet access is currently managed can have socially undesirable
consequences, including blocking legitimate sites and preventing users from accessing government
services. Education could play a greater part in helping the general population to exercise judgement in
© Adrienne Muir, Rachel Spacey, Louise Cooke, Claire Creaser. Published by Emerald Group
Publishing Limited. This article is published under the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY 3.0)
licence. Anyone may reproduce, distribute, translate and create derivative works of this article (for
both commercial & non-commercial purposes), subject to full attribution to the original
publication and authors. The full terms of this licence may be seen at http://creativecommons.org/
licences/by/3.0/legalcode
This work was supported by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) (grant number
AH/J005878/1).
The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available on Emerald Insight at:
www.emeraldinsight.com/1477-996X.htm
Regulating
internet access
87
Received 18 February 2015
Revised 14 July 2015
Accepted 15 July 2015
Journalof Information,
Communicationand Ethics in
Society
Vol.14 No. 1, 2016
pp.87-104
EmeraldGroup Publishing Limited
1477-996X
DOI 10.1108/JICES-02-2015-0005
selection of materials to view and use. This does not preclude implementing stricter controls to protect
children, whilst allowing public libraries to continue providing a social good to those who are unable to
otherwise participate in the digital age.
Research limitations/implications – The response to the survey was 39 per cent meaning that
ndings may not apply across the whole of the UK. The ndings of this study are compared with and
supplemented by other quantitative sources, but a strength of this study is the depth of understanding
afforded by the use of case studies.
Originality/value – This paper provides both a quantitative and qualitative analysis of how
internet access is managed in UK public libraries, including how library services full their legal
obligations and the ethical implications of how they balance their role in facilitating access to
information with their perceived role as a safe and trusted environment for all members of their
communities. The ndings add to the international discussion on this issue and stimulate debate
and policy making in the UK.
Keywords Censorship, Public libraries, Freedom of expression, Information ethics, internet access
Paper type Research paper
Introduction
Managing access to, and use of, internet connections in public libraries raises issues that
library authorities must grapple with. These include preventing misuse of internet
connections and access to unlawful material by members of the public. Protecting
children from exposure to material that may cause them harm, or any public library user
from being offended by what others are viewing online, is also a key concern. Public
library authorities use a variety of methods to address these issues, including technical
measures to control access to content and providing guidance on what is and is not
acceptable behaviour. Filtering internet access is a commonly used management tool.
However, this imperfect method raises as many issues as it seeks to address. Monitoring
user behaviour to identify the misuse of internet connections raises privacy concerns.
Blocking access to internet material or services that are lawful, but potentially harmful
or offensive to some members of the public, could be considered censorship and contrary
to the fundamental purpose of public libraries.
Much of the literature on managing public library internet access originates from the
USA. The management of internet access in US public libraries is shaped to some extent
by legislation. The constitutionality of the Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA) and
the legality of US public library ltering policies have been subject to legal challenge.
The US Supreme Court ruled that CIPA was constitutional because it provides that
material deemed unsuitable for children should not be restricted for adults as a matter of
course (Sobel, 2003, p. 15). The American Library Association (ALA) and the American
Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) have been very vocal in their opposition to ltering (Bertot
et al., 2010). The arguments against the use of ltered internet access are principally
related to the technical limitations of the software and the ethical implications of
restricting access in this way. An example of the limitations of ltering software is a
2011 Australian survey, where 44 per cent of respondents had received complaints of
“restricted access because lters blocked valid, legitimate, inoffensive sites in error;
limits on le size downloads, and general objections to the ethos of ltering” (Australian
Library and Information Association, 2011, p. 23).
JICES
14,1
88
To continue reading
Request your trial