ANOTHER VICTORY FOR THE CHRISTIAN RIGHT

Is it "they must," or "they can?" I understood the ruling to me that if they wanted to, they could install filters, not that they were mandated to do so. The ruling also stated that if a patron requested the filter be turned off, the library must honor that request, no matter the reason.

 

If we taxpayers pay the bills, then we taxpayers can call the shots. If the libraries don't like it, they can simply refuse to accept taxpayers' dollars.

 

There was a big article in our weekly paper saying our local libraries installed filters over 2 years ago to 'prepare for this expected ruling'! Way to go Mrs. Suzanne (fellow church member, I might add)

Diane

 

Kelly is right. Therefore, taxpayers are still paying for access, they closed the door, they just didn't lock it. It is a good ruling to keep porn access out of the hands of children.

 

I just re-read it. You're right, Congress can force them to install the filters. However, the government claimed during arguments that "a librarian will unblock filtered material or disable the Internet software filter without significant delay" ( Scroll down and you'll see this in Kennedy's comments), and if there is significant delay, that could be brought before a court, based on application of the law.

 

I've been following this for a while. In my city, (Orange, CA) the Orange Public Library has had websense (an internet filter) on their library internet computers for years. The ALA has been trying to strongarm them for a while to remove them. Orange has pretty much told the ALA to sue them if they want them removed. Now, they won't have to. Also, upon reguest, the Orange Public Library will remove a filter if the user is over 21 and signs a waiver. They are then given a machine that is not in view of other internet users. This solves several problems. There was a recent woman who is genetically intersexed. Many sites containing information about this medical condition also contain material that is considered pornographis, and thus blocked. However, she is still allowed access to the sites upon request, and her request can be met without removing filters as a matter of course.

BTW - Having Websense costs quite a bit to impliment annually (it's a subscription service), but the City Coucil feels it's money well speant.

Most of the cities around here do use filters, in the public interest. (So much for Southern California being home of the "liberals").

 

Yes, there are a few sites that have child pornography. But the feds are somewhat good about prosecuting the people who run these sites, and they're often shut down as quickly as they pop up. We usually don't here about these sites being shtu down, becuase it's just not newsworthy.

 

This is indeed a good decision. I was in the library not too long ago and saw a bunch of kids using the computers. It looked as though all of them were on game sights. Out of curiousity I thought I would try something out on a computer that wasn't being used. Everyone here I'm sure knows that if you type a word between the dots in the address bar, well, you get what you ask for. I typed in a word, and well. got what I asked for! It occured to me these kids could have done the same thing. These filters will not be perfect: a coworker showed my how to get around the company Smart Filter, but it will indeed help.