Libraries, The First Amendment, And Cyberspace

Answers questions librarians have about the First Amendment and library services, broaching topics including basic First Amendment principles, the right to offend, religious motivation and library use, library confidentiality laws, and cyberspace and the First Amendment. A special chapter is included on children, school, and the First Amendment. Appendices include ALA policies and guidelines. Peck is senior director for legal affairs and policy research with the Association of Trial Lawyers of America. He also serves on the First Amendment Advisory Council of the Media Institute. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

Library Journal

Difficult First Amendment issues for libraries are now further complicated by the growth of Internet access. What may be or may not be legal is hard for the librarian, library director, or library board member to learn or understand. Peck (The Bill of Rights and the Politics of Interpretation) gives us a useful guide to these tricky constitutional issues. A good opening chapter presents 49 questions covering background information on the First Amendment. The next eight chapters discuss libraries, sexually oriented materials, materials considered offensive due to their political or moral content, religious issues, library confidentiality issues, workplace issues, children, and cyberspace. Peck presents complex laws and detailed court opinions with great clarity. His lengthy appendix includes the Library Bill of Rights plus model guides for access policies that cover Internet access. This easy-to-read and up-to-date overview on this complicated issue is recommended reading for all librarians and for use as a library school textbook.--Stephen L. Hupp, Swedenborg Memorial Lib., Urbana Univ., OH Copyright 2000 Cahners Business Information.\