Library board considers Internet filters
By KALEY CONNER
The Hays Public Library Board heard from Nex-Tech representatives at Tuesday's meeting as the board ponders the merits of implementing more "robust" Internet filters on library computers.
The Nex-Tech presentation covered the company's "total traffic control" technology, which can provide varying levels of online monitoring. The board just has begun to discuss the option, board chairman David Dunn said.
"We're barely getting started with this and seeing if it's something that we want to pursue, or if it's something that we can, with the limitations that we have with the way the library has to be set up," he said. "We have to take into consideration the whole citizenry of Hays. ... There are a lot of people that are very passionate about not letting their children onto certain sites."
The technology would have the capacity to monitor and manage Internet activity throughout the building, including blocking certain sites and spam, and watching for inappropriate or suspicious activity. Bandwidth use also could be monitored, ensuring the library would have sufficient capacity without purchasing more.
The system, however, could accomodate library specifications, providing as much -- or as little -- protection as the board requests, said Nex-Tech representative Brian Meder, noting it would not have to affect all computers.
"While there's a lot of good activity out there, there's a lot of not-so-good activity out there, so there's where the total traffic control can come into play," Meder said. "It's very granular in that it can be done by user, by website address or the IP address."
This system is used by many school districts. Cost for the technology is not yet known. Meder said an engineer would need to inspect the library's technology and submit a bid.
Currently, all of the library's computers have the capability to be filtered through Nex-Tech Lightning Jack on request. Only four machines located in the children's department always are filtered. The issue of filtering Internet content stirred much local debate when it first was discussed in 2004.
Mayor Chris Channell -- an ex-officio member of the library board -- said the board has spoken against tracking individual activity.
"One concern that we've already talked about ... we do not want to be able to track and identify the user, and we can turn that feature off," he said.
Library Director Melanie Miller, who is preparing to retire, expressed concern with implementing more stringent online monitoring. She said the board must be aware of several federal laws -- such as the electronic communications privacy act -- that protect certain information.
"If you engage in 100-percent monitoring, you become liable legally for anything that gets through," she said.