...thanks to a nearly $500,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Justice, Jacobson and several ISU colleagues are poised to establish the nation's first-of-its-kind cyber defense laboratory. In short, they're ready to build their own virtual battlefield...
CrayzyJ: I'm not trying to flame you, just thought I'd add this...:)
My mother is a library director in a small (7000) Midwestern town; there are no internet cafes in this area, and the nearest university computer lab is 60 miles away. This community has a large number of people who, if it were not for the library, would have no way of getting on the Internet.
This library is (as are many others, I'm sure) struggling with the question of "What is the role of the public library in the 21st century?" Should the public library restrict itself to books, periodicals, and other printed matter, or does it need to try to incorporate new forms of information, and if so, at what level? The question gets down to the real question, "What is the role of a library in society?" Why do we have libraries? Answer: We have libraries for the public good, the common education. Just as the wealthy can go to their "Internet Cafes" and "College (hint: restricted to students) Computer Labs," they can also buy their own books and newspapers. But the many blue-color workers (meat packing, mostly) don't have quite that level of luxury, and libraries and were instituted to ensure education for all citizens.
IMHO, by providing free Internet access, the library is not so much acting against censorship, but rather working to lessen the so-called "digital -divide." The 'haves' and 'have-nots' are now the 'have the internet' and the 'can't afford the internet.'
Granted, time and usage limits must be placed, so that people aren't MUDding for hours while others wait, but I think it's sad if we're asking the librarian to decide who "needs" to use the Internet.
On a related note: I asked her about installing a program so that when minors use the computer, it keeps track of the websites they visit, possibly with lists available to that minor's parents upon request. She stressed to me that they try very hard not to keep track of who is using the Internet and where they're going, to avoid possible liability concerns.
Slashdot Mirror
"So it's sorta social. Demented and sad, but social."
Thanks to Starbucks for hosting us.
I want the digital camera mounted on the inside, so I can see what looks good without having to open the door.
And so I can see the little guy that turns out the light when I close the door.
Plus, it would really help in making sure that there's not a Gozerian temple inside my fridge.
My mother is a library director in a small (7000) Midwestern town; there are no internet cafes in this area, and the nearest university computer lab is 60 miles away. This community has a large number of people who, if it were not for the library, would have no way of getting on the Internet.
This library is (as are many others, I'm sure) struggling with the question of "What is the role of the public library in the 21st century?" Should the public library restrict itself to books, periodicals, and other printed matter, or does it need to try to incorporate new forms of information, and if so, at what level? The question gets down to the real question, "What is the role of a library in society?" Why do we have libraries? Answer: We have libraries for the public good, the common education. Just as the wealthy can go to their "Internet Cafes" and "College (hint: restricted to students) Computer Labs," they can also buy their own books and newspapers. But the many blue-color workers (meat packing, mostly) don't have quite that level of luxury, and libraries and were instituted to ensure education for all citizens.
IMHO, by providing free Internet access, the library is not so much acting against censorship, but rather working to lessen the so-called "digital -divide." The 'haves' and 'have-nots' are now the 'have the internet' and the 'can't afford the internet.'
Granted, time and usage limits must be placed, so that people aren't MUDding for hours while others wait, but I think it's sad if we're asking the librarian to decide who "needs" to use the Internet.
On a related note: I asked her about installing a program so that when minors use the computer, it keeps track of the websites they visit, possibly with lists available to that minor's parents upon request. She stressed to me that they try very hard not to keep track of who is using the Internet and where they're going, to avoid possible liability concerns.
Only 99 days till the REAL new millenium!!!