Hit: CD's and "surfing" in library(long)

["Baker, Missi" <MBAKER@GREENUP.K12.KY.US>]

I received the following responses to my query about idle surfing the Net in
the library. Several requested the following hit. Thanks so much for those
who took time to comment and inform.

I do the same thing that you do....allow them to go to basically
worthless but not pornographic sites...in the morning and at lunch
and during activity periods.  They go to wwf, etc. and sometimes I
don't like the scantily clad women at that site.  I don't like what
it says about exploitation of women.  That is another subject.....
However, I do not let other students pull up chairs and "gang around"
any computer; it is always one person per computer. Their time
allowance is 25 minutes on the computer, and I monitor them all the
time.  That is not to say that we don't get some porno sites on
occasion. We have over 30 students in the mc each morning and usually
30 to 50 during the each lunch and activity period.  We only have 14
computers so they are doing other things.  I am not ready to tell
them that they can't use the computers for anything except research.
My biggest complaint is that they want to go to Internet first when
they DO have research projects when a perfectly good book is sitting
right there on the shelf....less time consuming and more reliable.

I allow 'surfing' under the same circumstances that you do- no chat.
But...only one student per computer-unless students are working on a group
class project.

Our policy is that internet use in the library is for academic purposes
only. A
student must be able to tell me for what class they are doing the research,
and
they should have at least some idea of what they are looking for and where
they
will look.  There is a large notice above each machine:

NOTICE!  The relief of boredom is not an acceptable use of the internet.
                 (Read your student handbook, page 19)

Our web access is for academic purposes only. Except for special cases, our
rule of thumb is one student per station. If they are working in groups,
two is the limit on the rarer occasions.  I feel that most of the students
have access at home and they are free to "surf" there. Hope this helps.
Our AUP says "teachers and media specialists will limit recreational
searching to ensure that students make effective use of instructional
and study time."  My limit is 15 minutes per session; one session a
week.  I allow two students to work together at computers, so the "per
session" is to avoid "That was his 15 minutes.  Now we're using my 15
minutes."  When my staff and I suspect a student is ignoring the once a
week limit, we start logging that student's sessions so we have a record
on which to base a warning and disciplinary action if warning isn't
heeded.

Our IUP states that kids can only use the net for EDUCATIONAL purposes.
We've
translated that to for school or otherwise approved searches.  You also need
to
consider how many access points you have.   I also tell kids that younger or
shy
students are not apt to complain if they want to use the net, so we never
know
if they want it until the machine frees up on its own and the shy ones
wander
over then.
Our rule is that the personal stuff is only OK during the hour the librar
is open after school.
I would encourage you to let them surf as long as they are not accessing
inappropriate sites.  I think that is the way they learn even if it seems
like a waste of time.  There is also a social aspect of sharing sites
together that it appears your students are doing that I think is good for
them.  I used to have an open access policy but my district has a "no
filtering" policy and I had some trouble with students accessing
inappropriate sites so I had to restrict the Internet use to "school
related" searches.  I really was sad to make this decision because I liked
the culture that had developed in the library but I had little choice.
Our students are told that they must follow the AUP (which they and
their parent/guardian signed) which states the internet is to be used for
"educational purposes" only.  They are allowed to surf only while they are
being trained to use the internet, any other time they must have a teachers
assignment that requires that they be allowed to use the internet.  This is
partially because we only have a few computers in the library that are
Internet ready, and we have been told that either myself or my aide must be
in the room while ANY student is on the internet.  I just can't afford the
time to stand in there and watch someone check on the latest scores (which
will be available later in the newspaper) or what is happening to their
favorite rock group.
    We are "reasonable" on teacher assignments.  Guidance gives permission
for college, financial or career searches.  Teachers may also ask students
to research sites for upcoming assigments.  I always have a few that I have
found recommended by various sources that I need to have checked out.  I
even have students recheck some of the previously used sites to be sure
that they are still valid.
    Chat rooms are a big NO NO, and no personal e-mail accounts.

I don't allow surfing.  My school policy is there must be a teacher present
at
all times.  I can't spend my lunch/flex time monitoring students just
surfing so
they must have an assignment or go to one of the online databases I
subscribe
to.  I don't even tell my middle school students they are accessed through
the
regular internet and since they require a password, most think they can't
get to
the regular internet.  They do their surfing in the computer lab with their
teacher.
Due to the number of lines available our students need to be working on
"educational sites"  I sometime have a broad view of what that is however.

In my k-8 school, we have 9 Internet computers in the library and one
lab  that can access the Internet.  During school hours there is no
surfing.  Internet is to be used for school projects only.  That's it;
no problem.  We 're open an extra 45 minutes two days a week; kids can
surf during those times, but there are limits to what they can look at.
If they see clothing that is unacceptable in the school, they have to
get out of the site; if they hear or see language that they should not
use with the principal, they have to get out of the site.
Our internet access is new, so I don't have a lot of experience with
monitoring it, but we do not allow surfing. In theory our teachers are
supposed to come in and bookmark starting sites becore they send student to
do research, this worked well for the chemistry class and the classes that
need career information. It will not work of course, for the students doing
research papers.
        I do not allow surfing because I am the only adult in the library. I
do
not have any paid help. I cannot just supervise students who are using the
computer all the time. From my desk I can see all 14 computer screens
(well, I can if I stand up). I walk around several times an hour to help
students & see what they are doing. But I also need to be able to help
students who are not at the computers, do bookwork, order books, do some
cataloging, make bibliographies, etc.
        Someday after students have been taught appropriate internet
behavior, we
may offer surfing--but we are starting out slowly and safely (I hope).
Part of our AUP is that the Internet will be used only for educational
purposes - and that students must have an assignment.  I'm flexible about
assignments -  for instance I might have some Internet "fun projects" in
folders - visit a particular site and answer questions, etc. - that aren't
for an assignment in class or graded, but it is an optional "library
assignment".  I tell students that the district spent the money for
students to use the Internet for education, not for playing games.  I've
had next to no problems.  We are however, an elementary school, in an area
where many students have Internet access at home where they can visit the
game sites.   Despite the fact that the district has a "firewall" and we
cannot access chat rooms, inappropriate sites can still slip through.  So,
I find that  this policy greatly reduces the possibility of visiting
inappropriate sites.
Our internet access is new, so I don't have a lot of experience with
monitoring it, but we do not allow surfing. In theory our teachers are
supposed to come in and bookmark starting sites becore they send student to
do research, this worked well for the chemistry class and the classes that
need career information. It will not work of course, for the students doing
research papers.
        I do not allow surfing because I am the only adult in the library. I
do
not have any paid help. I cannot just supervise students who are using the
computer all the time. From my desk I can see all 14 computer screens
(well, I can if I stand up). I walk around several times an hour to help
students & see what they are doing. But I also need to be able to help
students who are not at the computers, do bookwork, order books, do some
cataloging, make bibliographies, etc.
        Someday after students have been taught appropriate internet
behavior, we
may offer surfing--but we are starting out slowly and safely (I hope).
 Again, group, many thanks.
Missi Baker, librarian
Greenup County HS, Greenup KY
Mbaker@greenup.k12.ky.us <mailto:Mbaker@greenup.k12.ky.us>

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