Beanbag chairs? Check!
Extensive picture book collection? Check!
Family story time? Check!
Homework stations with computers? Check!
Internet access? Hmmmm…..
For families, no community resource is more valuable than the public library. Research shows having books in the home is strongly linked to kids’ academic achievement later in life, and, for many low- or middle-income families, this just isn’t possible without access to a public library. As the kids grow, the library can provide a quiet place and internet access to do homework, opportunities to connect with kids and adults in the community, and encourage them to keep reading. Particularly as an equalizer, the public library’s importance cannot be overstated.
Internet access opens the world to your community, and, for the most part, this is a wonderful thing. However, we all know the world is a complicated and sometimes downright disturbing place. Providing unrestricted internet access to the kids and youth of your community puts them at risk.
How? Research shows that kids who access violent media suffer academically, emotionally, and in their relationships. Teens who say they enjoy violent video games have a higher hostile attribution bias and are more likely to respond to others with hostility and aggression. Consumption of violent media has also been linked to decreased verbal skills, lower academic performance, and shortened memory and attention span.
Kids and teens who view pornography don’t fare any better. They also suffer academically and have decreased memory function and attention span, are more dissatisfied later in life, are more likely to perpetrate sexual harassment and develop problematic attitudes about women, struggle with substance abuse and participate in risky sexual behaviors.
Librarians, don’t let the dark side of the web drag your library down and threaten the kids of your community! Clean Router can filter every device connected to your network automatically, and you can adjust the filters and approve or block websites easily at any time!
