Hot Topic @ ILA: Balancing Security with Human Rights

One session that stayed with me after the conference was over was the discussion panel on security and human rights. This could have been a full day (or three!), as clearly there are no easy answers here. Many questions were raised:

• When and how should a parent have access to a child's account?
• How do we create a safe environment for our staff?
• What criteria should we use to ask people to leave (how bad do they have to smell? How much of a disruption can they cause to others?)?
• Where do we draw the line with "porn?"
• Should we use technology to further restrict Internet use, or should we do all we can to give patrons more privacy?
• When should we call 911?
• Should anyone work alone in a library, and how do we handle threats if this can't be avoided?

The list goes on. We all know the issues, and we know the philosophies behind them. We also know that the philosophical response isn't always applicable in our day-t0-day work life. What suggestions do you have in terms of practical ways to manage these issues in the real world?