Balancing Safety and Accessibility: How UK Councils Use Advanced Web Monitoring to Secure Public Libraries

Libraries have long been cherished as inclusive community spaces where the quiet hum of learning mingles with the smell of old books. So much more than just a place to borrow reading materials, libraries provide free access to information, education, and essential resources for those who might otherwise go without.

By fostering literacy, learning, and social inclusion, public libraries play a crucial role in strengthening our communities and promoting the democratic sharing of ideas.

But let's get real: not all library users are there with good intentions. For every hundred stories of personal growth and education, there are a couple of bad eggs exploiting these spaces for more nefarious purposes. It is a harsh reality that means libraries and the councils overseeing them face a critical need to protect their users and digital infrastructure. 

The mammoth challenge here? Balancing a free flow of information while maintaining a secure, safe environment for all users.

Traditional web filtering tools, such as firewalls, are essential in these environments, blocking security threats like malware and restricting access to adult content. However, their basic reporting features often create blind spots, limiting administrators' ability to effectively manage and monitor online activity. This lack of insight frequently results in blanket blocking policies, restricting access to legitimate sites and risking unnecessary censorship.

The solution to these challenges lies in more sophisticated web monitoring and reporting tools, designed to give councils detailed insights and balanced access control. 

Forward-thinking councils are turning to Fastvue for an intelligent approach that not only enhances transparency but also provides control in a way that is accessible to non-IT staff. Fastvue cuts through the technical noise, providing clear insights into usage with features like Site Clean technology, keyword detection, search term and video extraction, and real-time alerts. These tools help administrators easily distinguish between acceptable and suspicious activity, enabling councils to block only high-risk content, such as malware and pornography, while monitoring 'grey area' sites to ensure safe, responsible access to essential resources.

A Fine Line Between Access and Security

As libraries have evolved to encompass a range of digital services, council staff are responsible for restricting access to unlawful or harmful material, safeguarding children from explicit content, and keeping an eye on individuals under legal restrictions, such as high-risk offenders, all while remaining compliant with privacy laws. Navigating these challenges is a bit like stepping into a labyrinth—minus the David Bowie soundtrack.

Navigating Public Library Security: The Challenges

When the People’s Network was launched in 1997, it was designed to provide open internet access in UK public libraries, promoting digital inclusivity and giving patrons a vital online connection, especially for those without home internet. Initially, this access was open and unrestricted, with few content filters. The goal was to ensure that libraries remained inclusive, fostering learning and access to a wide range of information​.

As the public network expanded and general internet usage grew, concerns about public safety online, particularly for young users, surfaced. David Cameron’s 2013 'family-friendly' filtering initiative introduced stricter content controls. In collaboration with the four biggest ISP providers in the UK, the national policy required default filters on public Wi-Fi networks, including those in libraries, to block harmful material, such as explicit adult content. As a result, the People’s Network began to apply these broader filters, which led to unintended 'over-blocking.' These filters, often based on keywords, would flag sites as inappropriate if they contained specific terms, even when the content was essential and safe, including sites containing mental health info, domestic violence support, and LGBTQ+ resources.

In addition, while firewalls are essential for blocking high-risk content like malware and pornography, their in-built reporting tools often fall short; they’re typically too technical, too limited, and not designed for use outside the IT team. Without the ability to accurately interpret firewall data, admins often resort to blanket blocking policies, restricting access to harmful content and valuable resources. 

The guiding professional ethics of librarians add further complexity, with both the IFLA and CILIP frameworks stressing the importance of promoting and defending access to information. However, frameworks like the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) introduce exceptions, placing restrictions on free access for issues related to national security, public safety, crime prevention, and public morals.

Library staff are walking a tightrope, needing to promote open access to information while dealing with real public safety concerns.

Here’s a deeper look at the issues councils face when managing public library networks:

• Cybersecurity Threats: Protecting networks from malware, phishing, and other threats compromising user privacy and library infrastructure.

• Privacy and Data Protection: User privacy is crucial for GDPR compliance.

• Open Access vs Security: Libraries must provide a 'comprehensive and efficient' service under the Public Libraries and Museums Act 1964 while enforcing security to prevent misuse.

• Bandwidth Management: Ensuring fair bandwidth usage so all users experience smooth access.

• User Accountability: Monitoring user activity to prevent illegal behaviour while respecting privacy.

How Fastvue Supports Public Library Security

At Fastvue, we elevate traditional firewall reporting by transforming raw network data into meaningful, actionable insights. Where standard firewall reporting often falls short, offering basic metrics with limited interpretability, Fastvue provides a comprehensive view of user activity with real-time, behaviour-based insights. By partnering with leading firewalls like Cisco, Fortinet, Palo Alto Networks, and SonicWall, we add a critical layer of visibility that firewall reporting alone can’t achieve.

Enhanced Firewall Reporting for Proactive Network Management: Fastvue supercharges your firewall's reporting capabilities by transforming raw internet data into actionable intelligence. Fastvue Site Clean cuts through the noise to reveal true online activity: decoding search terms, extracting video titles, and presenting website visits in a clear, comprehensible manner. With detailed user logs, intelligent monitoring, and customised alerts, Fastvue enables library administrators to identify potential threats and distinguish between legitimate and harmful activities. Unlike the limited, one-size-fits-all reports that come with firewalls, Fastvue provides the full story behind firewall logs, empowering informed decision-making to ensure online safety and security without compromising accessibility.

Monitoring Cybersecurity Threats: Fastvue enhances public network security by identifying threats such as phishing attempts, malware, and anonymisation tools in real-time. With instant alerts, library staff can proactively address potential issues, ensuring user safety and infrastructure integrity.

Privacy and Data Protection: Remaining GDPR compliant is an ongoing challenge for councils, with strict requirements around data security, user privacy, and lawful data processing. Fastvue strengthens councils’ GDPR compliance in several key areas:

• Data Protection by Design and by Default (Article 25): Fastvue ensures sensitive data is securely stored on local servers, eliminating cloud transfer risks. This setup aligns with Article 25 of GDPR, which mandates implementing technical measures to protect data subject rights.

• Accuracy (Article 5.1.d): Fastvue’s Site Clean filters out irrelevant web noise, such as ads and tracking pixels, allowing councils to focus on actual user behaviour. This feature reduces false positives, minimising the risk of inaccurate data handling.

• Storage Limitation (Article 5.1.e): Fastvue allows councils to set custom data retention policies, storing data only as long as necessary. Councils can configure alerts for significant activity and automate data deletion after a specified period or when storage limits are reached.

Balancing Open Access with Security: Maintaining open access while preventing misuse is tough, but Fastvue makes it more accessible. Customisable alerts, keyword filtering, and behaviour-based monitoring highlight high-risk users without the need to block legitimate content. Fastvue detects suspicious activities, including proxy use and unusual search patterns, without compromising general web access.

Bandwidth Management: Fastvue allows admins to view bandwidth usage as it’s happening, seeing who, what, and where is consuming the most. Network admins can quickly respond to spikes and prevent congestion by setting limits or throttling users once a threshold is reached so everyone has a smooth network experience.

User Accountability: Fastvue enables councils to strike the delicate balance between privacy and accountability. With detailed reporting, including timestamped URLs, search terms, and flagged keywords, libraries can track inappropriate activity without overly intrusive surveillance. These reports are also vital when collaborating with law enforcement, ensuring compliance with the Offender Management Act and MAPPA.

Stay Ahead of the Curve: Safeguard Your Council’s Public Spaces with Fastvue’s Cutting-Edge Monitoring Solutions

As many vital functions of public libraries have moved to the digital space, councils face an intricate balancing act: preserving their mission of open access to information while ensuring the safety and security of all visitors.

Fastvue empowers councils with the tools to strike this balance, from advanced monitoring with real-time insights and granular reporting to GDPR-compliant data practices. By equipping IT teams with the ability to act swiftly and decisively, Fastvue allows libraries to maintain an inclusive environment without compromising on safety.

To help support UK Councils secure their networks we’re currently offering a 30-day free trial to help UK councils secure their networks. Book a walkthrough with the Fastvue team today to receive your licence key and explore how we can help your council safeguard public spaces.