Turning the Page

We have a strong sense of what a library is: a book-filled quiet haven for the studious. But is that an outdated model? A library in Omaha, Nebraska may be a glimpse into the information future. NPR reports.

Questions...

•Is this progress, the end of literacy, or something else?

•What tools should the local library have to help children learn literacy and love learning?

•What, besides books, should the GCC library have to help students?

•What functions should libraries leave to the capitalistic marketplace? (Example: Libraries typically don't show first-run movies.)

Who Controls Social Media Posts?

Smart phones and social media are a powerful combo. They have been used to document political revolts, mass murders and police shootings, among other things. So it is no wonder that Apple came under intense pressure recently to unlock an iPhone that was used by one of the shooters in the San Bernardino tragedy last year. And social media companies have been under intense pressure to suppress videos of police shootings and other sensitive topics. NPR reports.

Questions...

•What are the five freedoms in the First Amendment?

•Is a social media company more like a newspaper or is it more like a telephone company?

•What are the reasons why police should be able to order a social media account turned off? What are the reasons why police should not have the power to order a social media account turned off?

•Why is it impractical from a business standpoint for a social media company to protect absolute freedom of speech on a global scale?