Looking beyond CIPA.(American Libraries Association's Midwinter Meeting)(Children's Internet Protection Act)

While CIPA, which requires filtering in public libraries receiving federal funds for Internet connections, may not affect all libraries, technology analyst Omar Wasow offered words of wisdom worth heeding. Speaking on "Living in a Post-CIPA World" for the ALA President's Program, Wasow encouraged listeners to project five or ten years ahead, when Internet access is even more pervasive and CIPA becomes less relevant.

"The future of libraries is in helping everyone to learn to think like a librarian," he said. "I want to challenge people about all the other filters that are not as obvious. The real skill that allows you to succeed is not to get online but to think …