Interactive Web Applications
Last Updated: October 25, 2007
What are Interactive Web Applications?
"Interactive Web Applications" (IWAs) is the term coined by ALA for those myriad web sites and applications that utilize the technology often referred to as "Web 2.0." This highly interactive and often user-generated content has come to represent the best of what the world wide web has to offer. The participatory culture that has evolved as a result of IWAs is unlike anything the online community has ever seen: more people are involved and they are creating more dynamic, powerful, and informative content than ever before. Wikis, blogs, podcasts, social networking sites, RSS feeds. These are the stuff of today's Internet.
For more information, please visit ALA's Interactive Web Applications Wiki, and for the most current information, please visit the ALA Washington Office's blog, District Dispatch.
Legislation in Libraries
IWAs are extremely important to libraries. Unfortunately, some federal and state legislation has been proposed that would block IWAs in libraries and schools. ALA has maintained five key points regarding the importance of IWAs and the dangers of legislation restricting them:
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The terminology used in these bills is still overly broad and unclear. As written, current legislation on the both the federal and state levels would block access to many valuable websites that utilize this type of communication, websites whose benefits outweigh their detriments.
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Much legislation still ignores the value of Interactive Web Applications. New Internet-based applications for collaboration, business and learning are becoming increasingly important, and young people must be prepared to thrive in a work atmosphere where meetings take place online, where online networks are essential communication tools.
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Education, not laws blocking access, is the key to safe use of the Internet. Libraries and schools are where kids learn essential information literacy skills that go far beyond computer instruction and web searching. Indeed, blocking usage of these sites in the very environments where librarians and teachers can instruct students about how to use all kinds of applications safely and effectively and where kids can learn how to report and avoid unsafe sites.
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Local decision-making - not federal law - is the way to solve the problems addressed by recent legislation like DOPA. Such decisions are already being made locally, in part due to the requirements of the Children's Online Protection Act (CIPA) for E-rate recipients. This additional requirement is not necessary.
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This legislation would restrict access to technology in the communities that need public access most. Filtering legislation would require libraries and schools receiving E-rate discounts through the Universal Service Program to block computer users from accessing Interactive Web Applications of all kinds, thereby limiting opportunities for those who do not have Internet access at home. This unfairly denies the students and library users in schools and libraries in the poorest communities from accessing appropriate content and from learning how best to safely manage their own Internet access in consultation with librarians and teachers.
Further, for a comprehensive view of why this issue matters to libraries, please read ALA's letter to the U.S. Senate (PDF).
Past Legislation
In 2006, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Deleting Online Predators Act (DOPA, H.R. 5319), which, had it also been passed by the Senate and signed by the President, would have required schools and libraries to block access to a broad selection of web content including "commercial Web sites that let users create Web pages or profiles or offer communication with other users via forums, chat rooms, e-mail or instant messaging." The bill would have blocked users from accessing social networking from schools or libraries, as well as access to a wide array of other content and technologies such as instant messaging, online email, wikis, and blogs.
For the full text of the House debate - which includes a letter of opposition from the ALA - please click here (PDF).
On January 4, 2007, Sen. Ted Stevens (R-AK) introduced S. 49 (PDF), the Protecting Children in the 21st Century Act. The bill was referred to the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee. The bill has no co-sponsors.
On February 16, 2007, Rep. Mark Kirk (R-IL) introduced H.R. 1120 (PDF), the Deleting Online Predators Act of 2007. The bill was referred to the House Energy and Commerce Committee. There are 41 co-sponsors of this bill.
Other Information
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ALA Resolution on Social Networking ( PDF) -
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YALSA Executive Director Beth Yoke's testimony on behalf of the ALA before the House Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet ( PDF) -
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