HIT-> Mosaic & CD-ROM for all?

[Kathryn Fahey <kfahey@MCIUNIX.MCIU.K12.PA.US>]

Almost a month ago I posted a Target about lending CD-ROMs to students
and also about creating a stand alone workstation with Mosaic installed
on it for the students to use for research purposes.  I would like to
thank all of you who responded, and apologize for my tardy response.

Here is what I learned:

Some people circulate CD-ROMs, but not ones that are used primarily
for reference.  Barbara Fiehn suggested looking to lending policies
already in place for guidance about lending CD-ROMS.  Shelly
Lockhead lends CD-ROMs for 3 days.

Replacing CD-ROMs is sometimes cheaper than replacing books.

One concern was that lending CD-ROMs was a violation of software licensing agree
 ment.  I spoke to ALA and they sent me
a copy of "Computer Software Copyright Warning" which seemed to negate this
concern.  I also spoke to Greg Lubelski at the Geauga County Public Library
who wrote the article in _Library Journal_ and he assured me that the procedure
 was legal.

There was also concern about allowing students to use Mosaic.  If the
students were unmonitored, they could get into some pretty risque sites.
Vic Parekh suggested installing a firewall to help limit access.  When I
spoke to my system administrator (for a dial-up account), he said
firewalls could not be set up at my local level.  He did offer to block a
list of sites if I provided him with the list.

At this point, I am going to proceed with both ideas.  I know there may
be some gliches in the beginning, but I think adding these services to
the students and faculty will be beneficial in the long run.

Thanks for all of your help


<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
Kathryn Fahey              |
The Haverford School       |    Phone:610-642-3020
440 W. Lancaster Avenue    |    kfahey@mciunix.mciu.k12.pa.us
Haverford, PA  19041       |
<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>