Focuses on the relationship between the information holdings in government agencies and the information-seeking public. Illustrates the range of holdings from complete inaccessibility to active broadcast of government information. Discusses historical trends and the movement toward dissemination and the countertrend: moving from accessible to…

Discusses the significance for libraries of privacy concerns involved with geographic information system (GIS) technology. Argues that librarians need to be aware of federal and state efforts to address privacy issues and monitor developments in government information policy. (AEF)

Examines the law for libraries, i.e. potential risks and liabilities of regulating, or not regulating, Internet access and use. Discusses the Communications Decency Act, use of filtering software, Internet policies, liability under local criminal statutes, ordinances for disseminating child pornography, obscene material, and hostile work…

Suggests strategies for managing archives with only part-time personnel or volunteers. The article explains how to: (1) define the official scope and responsibilities of the archives with records policy and authority structures; (2) manage the collection; (3) appraise materials; (4) arrange and describe materials; (5) provide reference and access…

Explores the accessibility of Internet-based electronic resources (e-sources) through three efforts: (1) evaluation of accessibility of e-sources cited in four print journals and four electronic journals in library and information science, (2) a survey of editors regarding policies on citing e-sources, and (3) a survey of authors on accessing of…

Provides an overview of a session that planned to discuss selected information policy issues that affect the management of and access to Federal Websites, including agencies' development and use of Web-based services; needs for improvement; implementation issues; and issues that affect the delivery of Web-based services to the public. Panelists…

Suggests that a definitive court ruling is needed to better define rights and responsibilities related to the First Amendment and libraries' Internet use policies so that libraries can provide a comfortable environment for users while maintaining the law. Discusses filters; court cases; claims of the anti-porn cult; research studies on how much of…

This document presents witness testimony and supplemental materials from a Congressional hearing regarding legislation to reform national telecommunications policy. Most of the proposed changes would allow Americans greater freedom to choose among communication products and services. Among the topics this hearing addresses are increasing…

Tasked with educating tomorrow's workforce, colleges and institutes maintain an active and dynamic interest in ensuring that all curricula respond to the needs of the marketplace, chosen careers and Canadian innovation and economic growth models. To meet these challenges, the materials selected for training purposes must be relevant, challenging…

This report gives an overview of the past and present domestic and international legal framework for database protection. It describes database industry practices in securing protection against unauthorized use and Copyright Office registration practices relating to databases. Finally, it discusses issues raised and concerns expressed in a series…

One critical area in government campaigns to combat terrorism is the management and manipulation of information. This is information which is both produced by governments and private information that governments believe will be useful in the fight against terrorism. Governments are reviewing their information policies regarding access and privacy.…

An increasing number of nations connect their schools on the Internet as an acknowledgment to its extreme importance in the education area. This study points to the perils that arise from its use when the users are minors, evaluates the technologies that are currently available to address filtering issues, and outlines a proposed solution for the…

In October, 1998, Congress enacted the Child Online Protection Act and established the Commission on Online Child Protection (COPA) to study methods to help reduce access by minors to certain sexually explicit material, defined in the statute as harmful to minors. Congress directed the Commission to evaluate the accessibility, cost, and…

The appendices for the Commission on Child Online Protection (COPA) Report to Congress, October 20, 2000, include the following: Commission overview, which includes scope and timeline, original statute, amended statute, technologies and methods, and biographies of the commissioners; Commission finances; Commission meetings for the year 2000;…

This paper discusses the importance of intellectual freedom for libraries, librarians, and library associations. Examples of attempts at censorship in Australia are presented, including the Broadcasting Services Amendment (Online Services) Act, 1999, legislation that requires filtering of Internet content. The IFLA (International Federation of…