IUPs - Points to Ponder

Types of IUPs

• Short, general policy?
• Longer, more detailed policy?
• Separate policy?
• Incorporate into existing policies?
• One policy?
• One policy and additional procedures/guidelines?
• One policy for patrons and staff?
• Separate patron and staff policies?
• One policy for adults and minors?
• Separate adult and minor policies?
• Proactive OR reactive?
• Affirming OR censuring?

Bare Bones Policies: What Should Your IUP Already Include?

• Why does your library provide Net access?
• Who will be able/not able to use your library's workstations?
• What Net functions/tools/software does/doesn't your library provide?
• What types of resources can/can't staff and students access/use?
• Does your library filter Net access or not?
• How do you expect staff and students to behave?
• How will library staff enforce your IUP?
• What other state/district policies address Net use issues?
• Do existing district/library policies conflict with your IUP? (video policies)

How Your IUP Affects the Services You Can Provide

E-mail

• incoming? outgoing? both?
• staff only OR students too?
• e-mailing resources only?
• mailbox storage limits?

Listservs

• staff only OR students too?
• time and mailbox storage limits?

Chat

• moderated OR unmoderated?
• public OR private?
• age OR time limits?
• kids safety issues addressed?

File Transfer

• staff only OR students too?
• what can/can't be FTPed?
• have local virus check software?
• "virgin" disks OR used disks?
• only from certain sites OR any site?
• have zip drives for large transfers?
• copyright issue addressed?

Web Browser

• Kiosk version? Standard version? Full version?

School/Library Website

• relationship to other local Net resources?
• links to personal homepages?
• links to local commercial sites?
• Lynx compatible?
• student/staff have personal webpages?
• require/not require plug-ins/apps?
• copies of links/webpages available to students and staff on disk?

Home-Based Net Access

• legal implications of being an ISP?
• rules specifically for student and staff home-use?
• time, storage limits?
• security implications?

Teaching Teachers and Kids About Your IUP

• What training will your library staff receive?
• What help/training will your library staff provide to teachers and students?
• What help/training will your library staff not provide?
• Win95/98? Networked Mac? hardware troubleshooting?
• Which staff/students will you train first? Next? After that?
• What other individuals/groups in your community can provide help train?

What Should Happen When Someone "Breaks the Rules"?

• What state/local legal documents might apply?
• Has your school's/district's attorney read/reacted to/approved your IUP?
• Does your state Board of Education provide "boiler plate" which includes recommended legal language?
• Does your school board/parents groups support your IUP (and its enforcement)?
• How will you inform students, parents, staff about your IUP?
• How will you educate students and staff about legal and enforcement issues?
• How will library staff enforce your IUP?
• Have you addressed the BIG issues? -- copyright? plagiarism? harassment? inappropriate language use? student/staff privacy? student/staff freedom of expression?