It is Tasmanian Department of Education policy that all schools have an Acceptable Use Policy for computers and the Internet. All Tasmanian government school libraries should be familiar with this policy and it should be displayed and enforced within the school library. One of the library’s goals is to provide students with the understanding and skills needed to use the Internet in ways appropriate to their education and information needs.
Library staff should guide and supervise students in the appropriate selection and use of electronic resources. Making the Internet available to students carries with it the potential that some students may find information that they or others may identify as being controversial, inappropriate or potentially harmful. Therefore a clear set of guidelines for acceptable use must be displayed prominently. The teacher-librarian should make sure she or he is involved in the development and/or articulation of the Acceptable Use Policy within her/his school. All school libraries should have copies of this policy available for students and staff to consult and they should display two notices relating to the conditions of use:
- Acceptable use of libraries and the internet
- Conditions of use agreement notices
Both of these notices should be prominently displayed near PCs in the school library.
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Issues include establishing:
- Role of the teacher
- Guidance Vs. Censorship
Issues include:
- Acceptability
- Supervision
- Parental permission and responsibility
- Acceptable behaviours
- Privacy: Freedom of speech
Concerns about Internet information should be handled in the same manner as concerns about other educational materials are handled.
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