The South Dakota Library Association joins parents, educators, and law enforcement in their concern regarding children’s safety as they access the Internet. Librarians have long had the best interests of young people at heart and have endeavored to encourage them to learn and grow in the context of the library. The Internet creates unique challenges to librarians who try to balance the importance of learning with the possible dangers created by open access.

South Dakota libraries subscribe to online services that provide the complete text of articles from reliable magazines, journals and reference books for easy access through their library website from citizens at home. Libraries also evaluate the links to other sites that are made from their websites. For many homework assignments, there is little need to look further than the resources and links of the local library website. Most library sites also have links to kid and parent friendly educational sites like those mentioned below.

South Dakota State law requires all public libraries and schools that provide public access computers to develop and implement a local policy that establishes measures to restrict minors from computer access to obscene materials. It also requires schools to either 1) equip computers with software that will limit a minor's ability to gain access to obscene materials or 2) to purchase Internet connectivity from an Internet service provider that provides filter services to limit access to obscene materials.

Libraries and schools have complied with state law. Policies that prohibit accessing obscene materials are in place in all schools and public libraries in the state. Some libraries use sign-up sheets to monitor who is using the computers, in order to be able to warn or discipline patrons if it is discovered that the policy has been violated. Other libraries have placed their computer monitors in a position where staff can be aware of any possible violations. Some libraries have installed filters. Some libraries require parents of young children to be present with them whenever they use the Internet. Some libraries require parents and children to read and sign an agreement that states that they will not attempt to access objectionable materials. The agreements include penalties, such as removal of Internet privileges, if the policy is violated.

Most of these are punitive actions, intent on catching violators. The best protection for children is to teach them to use the Internet properly and to make good choices. We strongly support the efforts being made to educate parents and children of the rewards and dangers of the Internet. We encourage libraries to conduct classes for parents on this subject and to provide pamphlets or other printed materal to assist parents with developing the family’s Internet rules. Surf Tips, a web page compiled by the SDLA Intellectual Freedom committee (http://lib.sdstate.edu/wight/sdla/surftips.htm), is an Internet Safety resource guide for parents, educators, teens, and children that librarians can use in their Internet education efforts.

In addition to SDLA’s Surf Tips, we recommend that librarians, parents, educators, teens, and children explore the information available at www.sdcybersafe.com as well as America Links Up (www.americalinksup.org), Child Safety on the Information Superhighway (http://www.safekids.com/child_safety.htm), the FBI’s A Parent's Guide to Internet Safety (www.fbi.gov/publications/pguide/pguide.htm), and the Especially for Children and Their Parents, created by the American Library Association (www.ala.org/alaorg/oif/children.html).

The use of Internet filters to prevent access to obscene materials has been widely suggested, but poses many problems for libraries. Filtering software lets some porn sites through while blocking legitimate ones. Filtering software offer no protection in chat sessions where sexual predators lurk. Rather than looking to technology, the South Dakota Library Association believes in education and appropriate supervision of minors. We believe parents need to learn about the Internet and keeping their children safe online. We believe children need to learn what to do should they encounter pornography or become the target of unwanted and uncomfortable online conversations – report it to an adult

The South Dakota Library Association offers the following tips for parents:

• Establish rules regarding Internet use outside the home, such as at a friends house or a library,
• At home, place the family computer in an open area such as family room rather than in a child’s bedroom.
• Talk with children regularly about their online friends and activities.