[OPLINLIST] Filtering Issues in Washington State

[Kent Oliver]

FYI, Kent


> Subject:	ACLU Sues Rural Libraries Over Internet Filtering
Policies
> 
>  
>                           Copyright 2006 Associated Press
>                               All Rights Reserved
>                     The Associated Press State & Local Wire
> 
>                      November 17, 2006 Friday  8:04 AM GMT
> 
> SECTION: STATE AND REGIONAL
> 
> LENGTH: 396 words
> 
> HEADLINE: ACLU sues rural libraries over Internet filtering policies
> 
> DATELINE: SPOKANE Wash.
> 
> BODY:
> 
>    A rural library district was sued Thursday by the American Civil
Liberties Union over its Internet filtering policy.
> 
>    The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court here, seeks an order
directing the North Central Regional Library District to provide
unblocked access to the Internet when adults request it.
> 
>    The ACLU of Washington brought suit on behalf of three individuals
and the pro-gun Second Amendment Foundation over the library district's
Internet filter on computers.
> 
>    The lawsuit contends the library's policy of refusing to disable
its Internet filters when requested for lawful purposes is
unconstitutional and goes beyond what federal law requires.
> 
>    "Libraries should not deny adults using publicly available
computers the opportunity to view research material and other lawful
information," ACLU Legal Director Sarah Dunne said in a release.
> 
>    Dean Marney, director of the library district based in Wenatchee,
said he was surprised by the lawsuit. He said the library recently
changed its filtering software that allows sites to be unblocked.
However, federal law does not require that requests to remove filters be
granted, he said.
> 
>    Doug Honig, an ACLU spokesman in Seattle, said new filtering
software is "a step in the right direction," but does not change the
underlying legal issue: whether libraries should act as gatekeepers of
what adults do legally online.
> 
>    Libraries that receive funds for Internet access under two
specific federal programs are required to have the ability to block
minors from seeing visual depictions of sexual activity.
> 
>    But the U.S. Supreme Court has interpreted the law to mean that
libraries should disable those filters upon the request of an adult.
> 
>    The plaintiffs include a Ferry County woman who wanted to do
research on drugs and alcohol while studying at Eastern Washington
University; a professional photographer blocked from researching art
galleries and health issues; and an Okanogan man unable to access a Web
log he maintains, as well information relating to gun use by hunters.
> 
>    The Second Amendment Foundation is another plaintiff.
> 
>    The Bellevue-based organization contends the library district
blocked online access to Women & Guns, a magazine it sponsors covering
topics such as self-defense, recreational shooting, new products and
legal issues.
> 
>    The district has 28 branch libraries in Chelan, Douglas, Ferry,
Grant and Okanogan counties.
> 


Kent Oliver, Executive Director
Stark County District Library
715 Market Ave., N., Canton, OH 44702
W: 330 458 2710 FAX: 330 455 9596
KOliver at starklibrary.org
"You can observe a lot just by watching." Yogi Berra




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