"Good guys" - Communities with character. Individuals with courage.

The Royal Oak (MI) City Commission is requiring the Royal Oak Public Library to put filtering devices on all but one of it computers. The mandated software is designed to block adult computer users from viewing Web sites with obscene material. It's too bad more libraries aren't doing it. The Royal Oak Public Library has always filtered computers in its Children's Department. But the February arrest of a man accused of viewing child pornography in the adult computer lab resurrected the debate of filtering those terminals, too.	2008-04-07: Library computers must be filtered to protect children | The Oakland Press
Virginia’s Governor Tim Kaine recently signed a bill requiring public libraries to install Internet filters on all computers or otherwise forfeit state funding. The goal of the new law—to block pornography and obscene materials that are harmful to minors—tightens an existing law, which just mandated libraries to adopt Internet-use policies.	2007-03-27: Virginia Passes Own Version of CIPA, by Debra Lau Whelan | School Library Journal
STATE OF OKLAHOMA -- HB2158, by Rep. Sally Kern, R-Oklahoma City and Sen. Cliff Aldridge, R-Midwest City, prohibits the Department of Libraries Board from distributing any state funds allocated to libraries on a formula basis to any library, library district or library system unless the library has taken action to place all children and young adult books and materials that are homosexually themed or sexually explicit in a special area in the library apart from the children and young adult sections and the library has a policy in place to limit distribution of such books and material to adults only.	2006-03-03: Bill Text For HB2158 - Committee Substitute
Topeka (KS) — Children couldn’t view Internet pornography or check out R-rated movies at public libraries anywhere in Kansas under a bill that won first-round approval Wednesday in the House. This year’s bill would require libraries to put filtering software on computers used by minors or enact a policy of allowing children to view what they wanted only if their parents consented in writing. A library that didn’t do either would face losing state funds, starting in 2008. Supporters said the bill would help parents shield their children from harmful or inappropriate material in an increasingly dangerous world. “With the issues we deal with on sex predators and sex offenders, it only makes common sense that we protect our children,” said Rep. Mary Pilcher Cook, R-Shawnee. Rep. Becky Hutchins, R-Holton, drafted the proposal as an amendment to a minor library tax bill. House members approved the amendment, 107-16, despite having had no hearings on it.	2006-02-09: Bill to restrict minors’ library access advances, The Associated Press
Three (IOWA) senators want to block access to porn sites and to limit children under 17 from getting R-rated movies. Iowa libraries would be required to block computer access to pornographic Web sites and to restrict children from checking out R-rated movies under legislation proposed by three Republican state senators. Kudos to: Sen. Jeff Angelo of Creston Sen. Brad Zaun of Urbandale Sen. Jerry Behn of Boone ...for protecting our children	2006-01-31: Lawmakers check out filters at libraries, by JONATHAN ROOS | REGISTER STAFF WRITER
Naperville IL - The library, like other Internet providers nationwide, has realized computer users aren't always who they say they are. And the technology it will use to check up on them is fairly simple - patrons will press a glass-topped scanner. In Naperville, the identity swapping consists largely of kids trying to circumvent their parents' Internet-filter rules. ... the fingerprint decision was prompted by the more mundane realization that patrons, especially children, were swapping library cards to sign on to the Internet. Like a number of libraries, Naperville requires a library card and ID to go online, and it allows parents to limit children's Internet access with a filtering system. To bypass filters, kids simply used their friends' cards.	2005-06-02: Want to use the Web? Your fingerprint, please. by Amanda Paulson | Staff writer of The Christian Science Monitor
Glendale AZ - Net filter is working in libraries. GLENDALE - City officials are satisfied with the way they're doing business when it comes to Internet access at the public libraries. A review of the city's Internet-filtering policies Tuesday was prompted by a recent change in Phoenix libraries. Phoenix officials decided to filter all public-access computers, not just in the children and youth areas as had been previous practice. In Glendale, computer filters have been blocking certain Web sites, such as pornographic ones, since free public access began in 1993. Other cities, including Tempe, Chandler and Peoria, have similar policies. "The council seemed to be happy with the policy that we have and the way we're operating," said Rodeane Widom, Glendale's library director.	2005-01-06: Net filter is working in libraries | Monica Alonzo-Dunsmoor, The Arizona Republic
Ypsilanti MI - A group of Ypsilanti residents who want to install Internet filters on the Ypsilanti District Library's computers scored a victory Tuesday, ousting two incumbents and signaling a possible change in the board's views on filters.	2004-11-03: Backers of library filters win - Proponents of Web filters oust 2 Ypsilanti incumbents by Khalil E. Hachem | The Ann Arbor News
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) - The governor shut down the teen section of the South Dakota State Library Web site, saying it included links to material he doesn't believe young people should see. Gov. Mike Rounds' move to shut down the entire teen section Monday followed a decision last week by the State Library Board to remove a link to a Planned Parenthood Web site. While the state board rejected a request to remove the link in April, it reversed itself Friday at the urging of the governor. ... Rounds said the removal of the Web links does not amount to censorship because Internet users still can go directly to those organizations' sites. State government sites should not feature links to advocacy groups that are politically active, he said. One link was to Columbia University's "Go Ask Alice," which provided answers to health concerns and some [EXTREMELY] explicit sexual questions.	2004-07-15: Closing teen section of state Web site was judgment call, S.D. governor says | Omaha World-Herald. Good job Governor!!!
How filtering works at the library, Grand Island NE ...and Money saved The library receives federal help to fund Internet access through the E-rate program, which gives the Grand Island library an 80 percent discount for Internet connection and Internet access fees. The Library and Services Technology Act (LSTA) helps libraries purchase computers that access the Internet. Libraries that receive E-rate or LSTA dollars must have filtering software to continue receiving the money. Here is a look at the library's savings: Internet connection fees: Costs without the E-rate discount: $12,864 With the E-rate discount: $2,573 Savings over the past seven years: Costs without the E-rate discount: $70,400 With the E-rate discount: $21,500 Computer costs over seven years: Costs without the LSTA discount: $115,000 With the LSTA discount: $30,000	2004-07-15: How filtering works at the library | The Grand Island Independent So, besides protecting its citizens, the Grand Island library ALSO SAVES MONEY!!! CIPA
The Minneapolis (MN) Public Library Board voted last month to install filtering software on the public access computers, reasoning — correctly — that protecting access to all sites — including ones that contain porn — isn't as important as securing federal funds. The librarians at the Corvallis-Benton County Public Library are pondering whether to accept the $4,000 in telecommunications discounts that would come from installing filters. It shouldn't be an anguished decision. Even those who would bleed to defend our nation's freedom of speech guarantees are not pained at the notion of limiting access to pornographic sites, especially for children. Yes, the filters are technically flawed and could limit access to some legitimate sites as well. But with the oceans of Web sites out there, the omitted sites likely won't amount to a raindrop.	2004-06-24: No harm in filtering out library porn | Corvallis Gazette-Times
Clark County (WA) "What we're asking is two simple things," said Kathy Furin, who lives near the Three Creeks Community Library. "We want filtered access on all computers, and we would like to see Playboy out of the magazine racks. "We're not people looking for issues to spend our time on, but this is important," said Furin. "We'd like to work with them and see the bond pass. I think it's very resolvable." [clip] "'Want to come with us after school and look at porn?' My son has heard it many times," Furin said. When she asked him about those conversations, her son told her, "That's what they're saying at school. 'We go to the library after school, and we all look at porn,'" some boys have told her son.	2004-03-29: Location, porn vex library - by Tom Vogt | Columbian staff writer, Vancouver (WA) Library bond issues force library district to deal with the voters!!
House favors library Internet filter - As approved by the (KS) House Federal and State Affairs Committee, the bill would require any library computer available to minors to be equipped as of July 1 with an Internet device to filter out obscene material. Rep. Becky Hutchins, a Holton Republican, shepherded the legislation through the House debate. “ We constantly hear the phrase that times have changed, and I would agree with that, but the one thing that has not changed — our responsibility to keep minors safe and the role of government to aid us in that process,” she told the House. The bill is Kansas HB 2420.	Withdrawn from calendar, referred to Federal and State Affairs 03/28/2004 2004-03-11: House favors library Internet filter - by John L. Petterson | The Kansas City Star The 71-52 vote Thursday by which the House approved a bill requiring libraries install technology to shield minors from Internet pornography.
Ashley Kartchner approached Rep. Mike Noel, R-Dist. 73, after conversations with a friend in Salt Lake City (UT) who had researched the problems of children accessing pornography at libraries and the predatory adults who have set up child porn rings at libraries across the country. "It's an interesting thing," said Steve Decker, Cedar City (UT) library director. "I think what we are attempting to do is more on the lines of protection rather than censorship. My personal value is to filter (the Internet) in a public place. We (the library) do not house R-rated movies, why would we allow open access to anything in the web?" Decker said when he took over as librarian in Cedar City, he did not advocate for or against filters on computers hooked up to the Internet. "I did take a one-week history to the library board and in that week, there were over 700 objectionable sites logged onto," Decker said. "That was in our old library, which had 7-10 computers." The board, he said, instructed him to immediately put filters in place.	2005-08-23: Controversial Utah porn, RDA bills signed into law by Rebecca Walsh and Derek P. Jensen | The Salt Lake Tribune ...and more
"Let's not be naive, folks," said Tami Holcomb (MI). "It is about protecting our children." Internet filters became an issue several months ago after the library refused a request by Ypsilanti Township officials to install them on library computers. Ypsilanti Township attorney Doug Winters urged the library to install the filters and benefit from the funds. Filters do not offer 100 percent protection but they are a good start, he told the board. "Do it for the children," he said. The debate has attracted statewide attention. State Sen. Alan Cropsey, R-DeWitt, is drafting legislation that would force Michigan libraries to install Internet filters or risk losing state funding. And Gary Glenn, president of the American Family Association of Michigan, is backing the filter group. "Children should not be exposed to Internet pornography intentionally or accidentally in public libraries," Glenn said. "And they shouldn't be forced to share library restroom facilities with adults who come to the library for free access to Internet porn at taxpayers' expense."	2004-02-27: Sharp split on library filters - by Khalil E. Hachem | Ann Arbor News
The Ohio Senate passed Substitute SB 144, the Internet filtering legislation introduced by Sen. Steve Austria (R-Beavercreek), during its session on February 18. With a vote of 29-4, the Senate approved legislation that states that public libraries cannot use LLGSF funds to purchase public access computer terminals or Internet access unless the library installs and operates filtering devices or software that protects against material that is obscene or harmful to juveniles. The bill also prohibits juveniles from borrowing any video material without parental consent. The bill will now go to the Ohio House of Representatives for consideration.	2004-02-19: Ohio Senate approves Internet filtering legislation See bill here...
Allen County (Ft. Wayne IN) Public Library patrons will soon be unable to access pornographic Web sites. The library board Tuesday approved the installation of a filter system on the library's computers that will block such access. The unanimous vote came three weeks after after police said librarians found Patrick Crooks, 36, using a computer Feb. 3 at the main library in downtown Fort Wayne to look at child pornography. Crooks, on parole for a child molesting conviction, was charged with six counts of felony possession of child pornography in connection with his alleged actions at the library. The library currently does not have a filter system in place and instead has a conspicuously posted policy forbidding patrons to visit pornographic Web sites. Computer screens are placed facing staff members, who can monitor the sites visited. If staff members see a patron viewing questionable material, that patron is asked to switch screens. Actions such as the one three weeks ago have become too common recently, and policies such as shoulder-tapping weren't adequately addressing the problem, board President Alan McMahan said. "Historically, I've always been opposed to the library acting as a censor," he said. "But this is something that is necessary." By June, computers at all branches of the Allen County Public Library will be outfitted with the filter system WebSense , Library Director Jeff Krull said. ... "We've concluded that we really think that filter products have evolved," Krull said. "I think we've got a product here that will get us out of the nuisance of constantly removing people from the nudie pages."	2004-02-04: Library to use filters to block cyber-porn - by Kenya Woodard | The Journal Gazette 2004-02-04: A filter worth the wait | The Journal Gazette
Manhattan (KS) Public Library- The KanGuard filtering system has been put in place on all public access computers that were not previously filtered. Staff has been prepared to enforce the provisions of the Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA) as directed by the local board. The board will be informed of any significant issues or problems in the management of KanGuard. The filter will be put on staff computers next. The children’s room computers will continue to be filtered by Cyberpatrol until it is clear that switching to KanGuard is a comparable or advantageous alternative.	2004-01-26: A BIG THANKS to Mark Taussig, city Mayor, the Manhattan Library board, and Fred Atchison, Director, who has said, "We have focused on a system sponsored by the State Library. Kanguard uses a freeware program that has been used with good results by school systems and libraries. We have had Kanguard on several staff computers and we also have had good results."
Kudos to State (VA) Senator Mark Obenshain - According to State Senator Mark Obenshain, "In Prince William County, when they audited compliance, they found that people were actually resetting the homepage so that when children sat down, in the children's section at computers, and clicked on the Internet, pornographic sites were coming up." It's stories like that one that have prompted Obenshain to introduce a new bill, requiring all public libraries to filter their public access computers, or lose state funding. But some, like Rob Pasco of the Shenandoah County Library System, say the bill is unfair.	2004-01-25: Internet Filters on All Public Computers Shenandoah County (VA)
The Kansas City (KS) Public Library's board of trustees has approved the use of Internet filtering software on its computers. The software is designed to prevent minors from viewing pornographic material on some Web sites.	2004-01-23: Library OKs filter - by James Hart | The Star
State Rep. John Atkins (R-Millsboro DE) says he plans to work a bill mandating that all schools and public libraries in Delaware install software on their Internet-accessible computers to shield children from obscene material. "No one would dream of putting pornography on the shelves of the children's section of the library, but that's exactly what we're doing when we give kids unrestricted access to the Internet," Rep. Atkins said.	2003-07-17: Legislator Seeks to Protect Children from Internet Obscenities
Internet filters supported in Lawrence (KS)- Lawrence Public Library Director Bruce Flanders, however, said he didn't mind Monday's ruling. Lawrence receives about $15,000 a year in federal library grants. "Personally, it doesn't bother me that much," he said of filtering requirements. "I may be a little out of step with other librarians."	2003-06-24: by Joel Mathis, Journal-World
San Diego (CA) Public Library's (City) 35 branches are now fully filtered. The County Library System and City Library System have voted unanimously to filter all internet capable computers.	2003-06-08: County of San Diego Board of Supervisors
Prince William Libraries To Keep Web Filters - Prince William County library officials say they intend to continue limiting what adults can see on the Internet, even though a panel of three federal judges recently ruled that such restrictions violate patrons' free speech rights.	2002-06-12: by Leef Smith | Washington Post Staff Writer
Flint (MI) District Library - "For adults, the federal standards filter obscene sites and those containing child pornography. Some exceptions may be granted to adults doing research. The computer stations available for this purpose will be kept in areas not visible to minors."	2001-08-08: Flint Michigan District Public Library | AP
It is the intention of the Live Oak (GA) Public Libraries to be in full compliance with the laws of Georgia (O.C.G.A. § 16-12-103), which prohibits the display of items “harmful to minors,” in public areas where minors are present. As children can be found everywhere in all of our branches, all workstations are filtered.	2001-06-04: POLICY STATEMENT ON PUBLIC USE OF INTERNET RESOURCES
Under a new law in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, anyone caught accessing sexually explicit Internet sites on a public library computer could face a $500 fine and up to six months in jail. The action by the parish council came on top of a policy approved in September to place filtering software on all but one computer in each library branch.	2001-01: AFA of New Orleans Pushes for Ban On Access to Internet Sex Sites On Library Computers
The citizens of Greenville, S.C., are not taking any risks. They were successful in getting software to filter obscene material from their public library. After learning of adult men viewing pornography on the library computers—one of whom had been convicted of distributing obscene materials to minors—they complained to the librarian. When their complaint fell on deaf ears, they took action. The citizens elected new members to the library board. The new board fired the director and launched a study to determine the extent of the problem. As a result, the board installed filtering	2000-08-09: an article from Concerned Women for America 2000-07-24: New Greenville Policy Mandates Filters
Internet filters not a controversy in Georgetown (MI) Township board approved filters in August; first to do so in Ottawa County	2000-02-13
In just the past few weeks alone, the towns of Plano (Texas), Nampa (Idaho), Anchorage (Alaska) and St. Tammany Parish (Louisiana) have all mandated that blocking software be installed in public libraries. And their move comes on top of similar actions by local governments in Ohio, Florida, Utah and South Dakota. We can well understand the temptation of parents to see in technology a threat to values and decency. As Dr. Laura's campaign should make clear, however, the real enemy here is not technology or the Internet but an ideology that makes no room for common sense.	1999-09-03: American Library Association v. Dr. Laura on Net-porn | Wall Street Journal
The Nampa (ID) City Council, voted 3-1 to withhold $50,000 in book procurement funds (of a total book budget of $120,000) from the Nampa Public Library unless the library installs filters on its Internet workstations.	1999-08-30: Nampa, ID, Council Withholds Funds If Library Doesn't Filter
State provided internet protection for public libraries: Kanguard is the (free) Internet content filter for public libraries in Kansas, a service of the Kansas State Library Kansas Illinois Century Network Illinois Utah Education Network Utah   Pending efforts (results not yet known or reported): Des Plaines Public Library (Chicago IL) Computers in the children's department of the Des Plaines Public Library are equipped with filtering software to block pornography. But that's not enough, resident Kimberley Bilotich says. She and a small group of residents have pushed the library board's management committee to meet with them Tuesday about the current Internet policy. As a parent, the Des Plaines resident is concerned because she recently saw a man viewing what she would call pornographic images on an adult library computer while he was inappropriately touching himself. Having unfettered Internet access on the library's adult computers is a main draw for people who want to surf pornographic images, Bilotich said. 2004-07-23: Parents urge more Net filters in library - by Ames Boykin | Daily Herald Florida - Public libraries would be required to install porn filters on computers, under a bill approved by a Senate committee over objections of librarians. 2004-03-15: Bill would require filters on public library computers House favors library Internet filter - As approved by the (KS) House Federal and State Affairs Committee, the bill would require any library computer available to minors to be equipped as of July 1 with an Internet device to filter out obscene material. Rep. Becky Hutchins, a Holton Republican, shepherded the legislation through the House debate. “ We constantly hear the phrase that times have changed, and I would agree with that, but the one thing that has not changed — our responsibility to keep minors safe and the role of government to aid us in that process,” she told the House. The bill is Kansas HB 2420. 2004-03-11: House favors library Internet filter - by John L. Petterson | The Kansas City Star The 71-52 vote Thursday by which the House approved a bill requiring libraries install technology to shield minors from Internet pornography. Withdrawn from calendar, referred to Federal and State Affairs 03/28/2004 Margaret Tweet, an ordinary citizen with extra-ordinary courage and conviction!! Vancouver WA - At a FVRL public hearing, a law enforcement officer warned that sex offenders were being attracted to the library for pornography. About 1,135 registered offenders (plus more unregistered) live in Clark County. Should taxes fund porn fixes for addicts, who are "under the influence" in a library full of kids? Public hearings on library Internet access from 1998 to 2002 were well-attended with strong support for a clean Internet. Many petitions and letters were sent. A KPTV poll asked respondents if they felt libraries should provide full Internet access, where pornography could be viewed, or if they felt filters should be used; 83 percent supported filters. Periodically, I have updated the Clark and Skamania County Commissioners who appoint the seven library board members in conjunction with Klickitat County. I've also informed the Vancouver City Council, since the mayor with the consent of council recommends two library board members. Except for Jeanne Stewart, they have shown a deplorable lack of concern. Rian Girard, one of the city residents who spoke out Monday night , said he would normally support the bond measure but cannot because of the library's unwillingness to do more on Internet pornography. "It's the ultimate in hypocrisy to support the education and growth of a community, which a library does, and at the same time be poisoning its youngest members," Girard said. ... Councilwoman Jeanne Stewart agreed the issue is worth supporting, but she also said the library has failed to assure parents that their children won't be subjected to "a sexually charged atmosphere." "You don't take your kids to a tavern," she said. "You don't take them to a bar. "You don't take them to a strip club." 2004-03-23: Public Perversion: The X-Rated Library Invasion - by Paul Strand | Washington Correspondent

 

See reluctant filtering action here: Those who go "Kicking and Screaming"