Personal Freedoms & Internet Legislation, page 6 of the "Friends of the Library spring 2003 newsletter" (no longer available on their website... even though they think EVERYTHING should be available to the public. CENSORSHIP!!!)

Director's Note
David Leamon
Executive Director, Topeka Shawnee County (KS) Public Library

This may be a year of legal battles facing libraries, and they will all focus on the Internet. The Internet is the most valuable toolever to connect information and people throughout the world.We expect to see a second attempt to introduce “controlling legislation” in the KansasLegislature this year. The intent will force filtering on all school and public library public access computers for children under the . The state of Missouri passed such a law in 2002 that restricts minors from using unfiltered computers.Under that law, the Library would be in violation even if a parent and a child wanted to work at the same unfiltered computer. Many people believe that filtering is an “absolute”, but it essentially creates a false sense of security. When government undertakes to censor or to control the freedom of speech, the freedom to access information, freedom from intimidation, and the overriding of parental rights, the erosion of a free society begins.

A second 2003 filtering battle will be the Children’s Internet Protection Act [CIPA] appeal to the Supreme Court. In May 2001, a 3-judge Federal Court panel overturned theCIPA. It would have forced all public libraries to block online access to materials deemed “harmful to minors,” or risk losing federal funding. While computers may be filtered, there is no guarantee that such sites can be eliminated from the search, and many other non-offensive sites may possibly be blocked at thesame time. Using the Internet requires training for parents and children on how the Internet can be acceptably used. At best, local controls should take precedence over federal control of this issue. Supreme Court hearings on this issue begin March 5 [2003].

EDITOR:
#1 - "the erosion of a free society begins" - Hmmm... how about the freedom of the patrons to have input into the goings on of the tax-funded "public" library?!!

#2 - "local controls should take precedence over federal control" - How about real "local control", rather that autocratic, tyrannical, despot decisions of a library board forcing their ideas upon us!!! We'd like that!!