Blocking Access to Information and Ideas: The Use of Internet Filtering Software and Levels of Satisfaction in North American Schools

Abstract

A primary purpose of the school library program is to enable young people to access and make effective use of information and ideas. This role has been enhanced through access to electronic resources. The Internet, however, is not a pre-selected menu of information sources deemed appropriate for children and young adults. Therefore, some libraries employ software to block or filter unfettered access to information. The purpose of this study was to measure the penetration of this filtering software in North America, to ascertain which types of software are used, and to determine librarians' levels of satisfaction.