Date: January 11, 2005
For Immediate Release
From: Kathleen Hughes, PLA
312-280-4028

PLA/ALSC Release Electronic Publication "Children and the Internet: Policies that Work"

The Public Library Association (PLA) and the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), two divisions of the American Library Association, have released a joint electronic publication "Children and the Internet: Policies that Work."

This publication is a successor to "Children and the Internet: Guidelines for Developing Public Library Policy," a work published in 1998 by the two associations. The original work, provided guidance and food for thought to librarians charged with drafting policy for children’s access to the Internet. With growing concern over children’s safety on the Internet, debate about the Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA), and the constant advancement of technology, the associations realized it was time to update the publication with new information and resources. This version, which contains articles, sample Internet policies, helpful ALA links, and more, was released in electronic format to allow for the timely and efficient revision of information.

"Children and the Internet: Policies that Work" was edited by Linda Braun. Braun is an educational technology consultant with LEO: Librarians & Educators Online. She works with schools, libraries, and other educational institutions to help them figure out the best ways to integrate and use technology. Linda has written for School Library Journal, Library Journal, Public Libraries, and VOYA. She teaches for Lesley University in the Graduate Technology in Education program and Simmons College in the Graduate School of Library and Information Science.

This publication is available, free of charge, on the ALSC website, www.ala.org/alsc or on the PLA website, www.pla.org. For more information contact Laura Schulte-Cooper (ALSC) lschulte@ala.org or Kathleen Hughes (PLA) khughes@ala.org.

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