[Publib] MySpace and U-Tube

Fri Aug 31 19:05:04 EDT 2007

In my library district, because we do not have large numbers of computers at
most branches, we limit usage to 1 hour per person throughout the district (
i.e., you can't use one hour at one branch and then go to another branch for
another hour). I'm hoping that as we complete some new building projects,
with significantly larger numbers of computers included, that we will be
able to lift that ceiling, which strikes me as painfully inequitable for
those whose only Internet access (or only high-speed access) is at the
library.

We use an IP-specific filter for explicit sexual content only, and do not
block MySpace. We have a lot of teen traffic, much of it revolving around
MySpace interactions and social gaming. Thankfully, we have not had fights
break out over MySpace dissing, although kids do bring their outside
conflicts with them into the library in other ways. The school system *does*
block MySpace, since content there can be unpredictable and identities so
fluid. Several of my local kids list their ages on their MySpace pages as a
couple years older than they really are, which could concern some
parents/guardians.

Right now our Internet stations are fairly old and slow; we've had a delay
rolling out a bright shiny upgrade (anybody here using Comprise and/or SAM
for Internet management?). I don't usually see kids plugging in their
headphones to listen to music or get the audio from videos, and I don't hear
them talking about YouTube much (not sure why not).

We do get mobbed after school by kids waiting to get on MySpace (primarily),
often with little interest in the library's other resources (you know, like,
those book thingies). It has been a little mellower over the summer. We're
working on ways to engage the kids with the rest of the library while their
waiting. One idea is to give them a trivia question to answer (sending them
to a book or the library catalog or databases), which when completed will
enter their name into a weekly drawing for...a certificate for one extra
hour of Internet time!

We have adult patrons (especially parents with young children) who avoid the
library during the after-school hours because of the aforesaid mobs of
often-bored teens. Better hang-out space for teens is one of my top
priorities for the new library building we need so desperately here. I loves
me my teens, but a lot of adults feel their hair turning color when the
kids' energy gets too high, and it's my job to make sure the library is a
good place for everyone.

I just put up a MySpace page for teen activities at my branch, and the
district also has a "Young Adult Advisory Board" MySpace page. While I don't
like the cluttered, ad-heavy design of MySpace, right now it's the place to
be if you want to reach our kids (and maybe a learn some things about them
and what they care about).

Judy, I just had to laugh (with only a touch of hysteria) when you said that
"we only have 27 [computers]". In my small-town branch, we have 4 Internet
stations, and we only have that many because of a grant we received several
years back. Other small branches in my district make do with *two* Internet
stations.

Geez, I'm longwinded!
Abbie

On 8/31/07, Judy McBrian <jbrian at boonvillelib.net> wrote:
>
> We don't block, but we have had to limit the hours if usage.  Bandwidth
> being one problem, but we actually had  fights break out over who said what
> about someone else on their page..had to call the cops yet.
> In addition, other, often older, patrons who want to use our machines (we
> only have 27) couldn't get to them or were intimidated by the large numbers
> of often noisy (if now rowdy) persons.
> Not much more scary to many older women than a dozen or so guys on a
> testosterone high.
> Limiting of time caused some outbursts.  Why not? We were limiting their
> given right to make trouble for their peers. (and fools of themselves to
> boot)
> Honestly, I''m weary of the whole mess, and will be happy when these sites
> run their course as some predict.
> No, it will NOT be a good thing when everyone has had assertiveness
> training.  (Manners maybe though)
>
> Neff, Joshua, JCL wrote:
>
>  I understand how bandwidth can be a problem, but otherwise I can't think
> of any legitimate reason to block these sites. I think if you block MySpace,
> you'd have to also block all other social networking sites--Friendster,
> Facebook, web discussion forums. If you block YouTube, wouldn't you also
> have to block Google Video, Blip.tv <http://blip.tv/>, Yahoo Video,
> GodTube, and all other video sharing sites?
>
>
> --Joshua M. Neff
> Web Content Developer
> Johnson County Library
> (913)495-2449
> neffj at jocolibrary.org
>
>
>  ------------------------------
> *From:* publib-bounces at webjunction.org [
> mailto:publib-bounces at webjunction.org <publib-bounces at webjunction.org>] *On
> Behalf Of *George Hazelton
> *Sent:* Friday, August 31, 2007 10:50 AM
> *To:* publib at webjunction.org
> *Cc:* 'Tangela McKibbens'; 'Connie Renaud'; 'Carolyn Fuller'; 'martha';
> 'Kaye West'; 'Wanda Bennett'
> *Subject:* [Publib] MySpace and U-Tube
>
>
>
> I'd like the group's thoughts on allowing public access to MySpace and
> U-Tube.  We are finding that people who use these services spend immense
> amounts of time on them, use up a lot of bandwidth downloading videos of
> God-knows-what, and tend to be noiser than the usual internet users.  So far
> no parents have jumped us for allowing precious little Bismuth to talk to
> naughty people, but that will probably come.
>
>
>
> If you have blocked access to these and similar services, what was the
> reaction of patrons to the loss of today's "opiate of the masses"?
> Grumblings and mutterings, or pitchforks and torches?
>
>
>
> Happy Friday to all, and to all a Good Labor Day!
>
>
>
> George Hazelton
> Assistant Director
> Henry County Library System
> 1001 Florence McGarity Pkwy
> McDonough, GA  30252
> Phone:  770-954-2806
> FAX:    770-954-2808
> email:    ghazelton at mail.henry.public.lib.ga.us
>
>
>
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-- 
**********************
aanderson at fvrl.org
Abbie Anderson, Community Librarian
Woodland Community Library
Fort Vancouver Regional Library District
   "The story is our guide. Without it we are blind." --Chinua Achebe
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