The Internet and the First Amendment

School Library Journal

For any school or library with Internet access, First Amendment issues can become tricky. Yes, we believe that everyone should have freedom of speech, but no, we don't really want our kids to see everything on the Net. Before making any decisions, educators, librarians, and administrators need to know the facts. Cate provides the basics, going into a legal history of First Amendment rights, particularly as pertaining to the Internet and minors. He identifies the legal issues surrounding minors' access to sexually explicit material and discusses the ramifications of controlling and regulating that access, citing many court rulings and statutes. There are no easy answers and this is not an easy read. However, if this is currently a hot topic in your institution, this book will provide the background necessary to make an informed decision.-Yapha Nussbaum Mason, Brentwood Lower School, Los Angeles