Some library policy problems for brief mention

Charging for user-access

Problems from Government

• Censorship of content
  • Words, images, public content, private discussions/meetings
  • Locally-originated content, responsibility for "foreign" content
• Surveillance of users (e.g., FBI's old Library Awareness program)
• Prohibition of anonymous authorship (!!!)
• Prohibition against secure privacy protection (via cryptography)

Problems with Protecting "Intellectual Property"

• Prohibition on distributing content without explicit permission
• "Content" that includes - or is - proprietary computer programs
• Copyrighted or contract-protected public government records
• Civil and criminal liability for violations by distributors (you!)

Some truly hum-drum policy problems

• Library terminals for personal email, MUDs, chat groups, etc.