Timberland Regional Library Internet Content Filtering Rev. 8/14/12 Timberland uses a Cisco IronPort proxy server to filter Internet content accessed by computers in the library. IronPort was installed in 2010, replacing the Websense content filter. All public and staff computers and mobile devices that use Timberland’s network to access the Internet go through the IronPort content filtering system. Computer Access in the Library Timberland provides the following computer and Internet access options:
Internet computers provide Internet access and Microsoft Office applications for the public. There are two kinds of Internet computers: o Choice – Patrons 17 and older can choose Filtered or Unfiltered Internet o Filtered Only – Unfiltered Internet is not available. By default, all patrons get Filtered Internet, but patrons 17 or older have the option to choose Unfiltered Internet. Catalog computers provide limited access to the Internet including TRL’s library catalog, TRL reference databases and IRS forms. All other Internet access is blocked. Children’s game computers provide educational games and limited access to the Internet including TRL’s library catalog and TRL reference databases designed for children. All other Internet access is blocked. Wireless service – TRL’s public wifi network allows patrons to access the Internet using their own laptops or mobile devices. All wireless Internet access is Filtered. Unfiltered Internet is not available on the wifi network. Staff computers provide Internet access. All staff Internet access is Filtered by default, but staff can choose Unfiltered Internet.
Timberland provides four levels of Internet access: Filtered Internet – This is the default setting for all patrons and staff. It blocks the following: Child pornography - Sites that host child pornography and pedophilia-related content. Includes the list from the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF). Pornography – Sites containing sexually explicit text or depictions. Adult - Sites directed to adults, but not necessarily pornographic sites (strip clubs, escort services, strippers; adult products; information about sex not in the context of health or disease) Tasteless or obscene - Sites that offer tasteless, often gory photographs, such as autopsy photos, photos of crime scenes, or crime or accident victims; sites displaying excessive obscene material. Non-sexual nudity – Sites showing nudism/nudity; nudist camps; artistic nudes; material that may be sexually provocative but not depicting sexual activity. Filter avoidance – Sites that promote and aid undetectable and anonymous web usage. These sites would let patrons bypass the IronPort proxy server.
Security threats - Sites that have been identified as being unsafe because they pose a high risk of infecting computers with viruses or other malware, of distributing spam or hosting a phishing site.
TRL does not block gambling, gun, hate or other sites that may be objectional to some. TRL does not block sites that have nudity if they are educational or health related sites. Some websites fall under multiple filtering categories. If any of the categories is blocked by Timberland’s filter, the entire site is blocked. “Safe search” is enforced on the Bing, Google and Yahoo search engines. Content identified as “adult oriented” or “explicit” is blocked on Craigslist and YouTube. Flickr restricts visitors to "safe search". Flickr's "safe search" is disabled if you log in to Flickr and are 18 or older. Unfiltered Internet - Internet access for staff and patrons 17 or older is Filtered by default but they may choose Unfiltered access. Unfiltered access allows “adult” material including pornography to be viewed, but blocks the following categories: Child pornography - Sites that host child pornography and pedophilia-related content. Includes the list from the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF). Filter avoidance - Webpages that promote and aid undetectable and anonymous web usage. These sites would let patrons bypass the IronPort proxy server. Security threats - Sites that have been identified as being unsafe because they pose a high risk of infecting computers with viruses or other malware, of distributing spam or hosting a phishing site. Some websites fall under multiple filtering categories. If any of the categories is blocked by Timberland’s filter, the entire site is blocked. No Internet – This is the setting used for catalog computers. Some parents also request this setting for their minor children on Internet computers. This level blocks open Internet access but allows: Access to TRL web sites Access to TRL reference databases. Links to external sites from within a reference database may be blocked. Access to IRS forms Children’s games computers – This level blocks open Internet access but allows: Access to TRL web sites Access to a subset of TRL reference databases selected for children. Links to external sites from within a reference database may be blocked. Access to IRS forms
Filter Errors No Internet filtering system is perfect. With millions of web sites, it is impossible for any system to keep up with all of the content added, updated, and changed on a daily basis. Timberland’s IronPort filtering system database is updated dynamically throughout the day. When a filtering error is identified, TRL corrects the local copy of the filtering database and reports the error to the vendor.
Timberland receives many reports of filter errors from patrons. Most reports are about web sites that the patron is not able to access through the filter even though the site does not include pornography or adult material. A small number of reports are about sites containing pornography or adult material that should be blocked by the filter, but are not. TRL reviews all filter error reports as quickly as possible and, if the report includes contact information, a response is sent to the patron. Normally responses are sent on the day of the report. When a patron reports that a site is being blocked inappropriately, they usually assume that the filtering system has categorized the web site as pornography. While this is sometimes true, usually there is another reason. The most common reasons a web site or page can’t be displayed are:
The patron tried to access a site using a library computer that does not have open Internet access, e.g., a catalog computer or children’s game computer. The patron made a typing mistake such as using a comma instead of a period in the URL. The site is blocked as a security risk or it is a proxy avoidance system which would bypass TRL’s filtering system. Some secure sites (colleges, universities, the military, and corporate personnel sites) use non-standard ports which are blocked by TRL’s firewall. The domain name on these URLs end with a colon followed by a number – www.something.edu:1234. The web site may be temporarily unavailable due to a problem at the host site. Some sites require the user to install software before giving access to some functions. This is common on game sites and academic sites. Patrons cannot install software on TRL computers.
Filter errors: Messages from TRL’s filtering system show black text on a pale green background. The bold header says “This Page Cannot Be Displayed” with an explanation in smaller text below including a link to an online form to report filter errors. See the example below.
Patrons can report filter errors using online forms on the TRL web page or by sending an email to the TRL webmaster account.
Preventing Inadvertent Viewing of Pornography or Adult Material TRL allows adult patrons the option to choose Unfiltered Internet access, but also recognizes patrons’ interest in not viewing objectionable material being viewed by someone else. To protect patrons from inadvertent viewing, TRL has done the following:
Some Internet computers in every library are restricted to Filtered Internet access. Internet computers that allow the option of Unfiltered access are in recessed workstations. Patrons look down through the glass-covered desktop to see the monitor. All wireless Internet access is restricted to Filtered access TRL’s Computer Use Rules state, “Some computers are in recessed stations for adults (17 and older) using unfiltered Internet. Intentionally viewing images that could be considered adult content on other computers in the library is prohibited.” Patrons breaking this rule may be asked to stop viewing the adult content or move to a recessed computer station.
Numbers of Choice vs Filtered-Only Public Computers The number of Choice computers has been reduced in all libraries over the years.
In 2004 TRL had 90 Choice and 95 Filtered-Only public computers (total 187). In 2012 TRL has 69 Choice and 151 Filtered-Only public computers (total 220). In late 2009 all computers in Salkum were made Filtered-Only as a result of problems related to the unfiltered Internet in that library. In 2011 all computers were made Filtered-Only in Elma due to a complaint from the community.
