HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-09-2003 Library Board MinutesSeptember 9, 2003 4 pm
UML Advisory Board met in the basement of the Library with
President David Isaacson, Vice -President Maisie Jones, Board
Members Caroline Kopp, Barbara Green, and Sharon Morgan in
attendance. Also in attendance were Director of Community
Development John Castro, City Attorney Wally Hatch, Librarian
John Sigwald and approx. 20 members of the community
including Marian Anderson who had requested to address the
Board with regard to UML policy on Internet filtering.
Meeting was called to order by President David Isaacson. He
tabled the first two items shown on the agenda and moved
directly to Ms. Anderson's presentation. Ms. Anderson voiced
concern that the Library does not have filters on the Internet
computers. She read from an article about sexual harassment of
women in the workplace due to pornographic material on the
Internet. This article stated that filtering would take care of
100% of porn. She told of seeing a young man at the Library on a
porn site. She said that problem was taken care of promptly by
Librarian John Sigwald, but she felt that the Library does not
have enough staff to monitor and filters should be put in place.
When questioned, she did say that she wrote two letters to the
editor of the Plainview Daily Herald before asking to address the
UML Advisory Board.
John Sigwald was asked to give his rebuttal to Ms. Anderson's
presentation. He pointed out information in ahandout that
everyone present had received regarding the Library's reasons
for not filtering Internet Access. (See attached handout).
The Board members were allowed to ask questions of both Ms.
Anderson and Librarian John Sigwald. David Isaacson asked Ms.
Anderson if she had ever used filters on the Internet and her
response was "No". He asked if she was concerned with other
subject matter (witchcraft, etc) or just pornography. Her answer
was "porn only". He asked if she was shown that filters do not
block effectively would her desire for filters change. She did not
answer that question. David stated that he had contacted six (6)
area public libraries in the past 2-3 weeks and found that none of
the six used filtering on their public Internet. His research found
for each porn site blocked, one legitimate site is blocked. 25% of
the Internet sites are changing daily according to David's
information. He stated that his research indicated blockage by
filtering companies is proprietary.
President Isaacson opened the floor for comments or questions
from the members of the community present. Various individuals
spoke -being very complimentary of the Library services,
Librarian and Library staff over the years and considered UML a
safe environment for themselves and their children, but did state
they were there as parents wanting to understand Library
policies. Some people brought up the fact that parents are
ultimately responsible for their own children and what they do,
see or say. The fact that there is no 100% effective filter was
mentioned.
City Attorney Wally Hatch stated the City of Plainview wants to
hear all citizens ideas. He stated that electronic filtering is
content -based. He also stated that monitoring by library staff is
considered by the courts to be acceptable. He asked John
Sigwald if staff had complained about having to deal with
pornography left on computers (work -place problem with porn
site). Mr. Sigwald stated "No". Mr. Hatch stated that the City
considers the usage of the Library's computers to be a privilege
and not a right.
After discussion, Caroline Kopp made the motion that the Board
make recommendations to Librarian John Sigwald that a starter
page be installed on the Internet computers that will come up as
patrons are going into Internet. Motion was seconded by Maisie
Jones and vote was unanimous. Caroline Kopp made the motion
that the Board recommend also to Librarian John Sigwald that
patrols (walk-throughs) in UML Public Computer area be stepped
up especially 4pm to 6pm daily when students are more likely to
be using them. Maisie Jones seconded the motion and it passed
unanimously. David Isaacson made a motion that this issue be
re-visited in the fall of 2004. Maisie Jones seconded the motion
and it passed unanimously. John Sigwald stated that any patron
can request that a computer be re-booted between patrons and
Library staff will do so.
Meeting was adjourned.
Unger Memorial Library
John Sigwald, Librarian
September 9, 2003
UNGER MEMORIAL LIBRARY ADVISORY BOARD MEETING
INTERNET FILTERING
Background
On June 23, 2003, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned a lower court's decision on the
United States v. the American Library Association (ALA) which had declared the Children's
Internet Protection Act (CIPA) unconstitutional, thereby upholding the CIPA. The CIPA
requires libraries receiving federally funded E -rate discounts (the Unger Library is eligible for
about an 80% discount) on telecommunications charges for Internet service to "have safety
policies that include the operation of blocking or filtering technology 'with respect to any ...
computers to visual depictions that are ... obscene.'"1 Under this law software filtering is
required to block visual depictions of obscenity and child pornography, which are by definition
illegal, as well as material "harmful to minors" for all Internet users although adults may ask
library staff to turn off the filters. In 1997 the ALA Council adopted a resolution that "affirms
that the use of filtering software by libraries to block access to constitutionally protected speech
violates the Library Bill of Rights."'
The Unger Memorial Library Advisory Board passed an "Internet Use" policy on March 10,
1998 (revised several times up until June 28, 2002) laying the ground rules for Internet use at the
public library irrespective of age. Basically, the Internet computers would be unfiltered but
patrons from 611' graders on up would be expected to "be circumspect in viewing Web pages."
A warning is given by the librarian upon the first infraction and subsequent disregard for
conservative community standards will result in the permanent removal of a patron's library
Internet privileges. Since the implementation of this policy we have had several patrons who
have tested its limitations and numerous warnings have been issued and, unfortunately, a few
people have been prohibited from using the Internet computers at the public library.
'CIPA Questions and Answers produced July 16, 2003 by the American Library
Association, p. 3.
2ALA's "Resolution on the Use of Filtering Software in Libraries," July 2, 1997.
825 Austin Street • Plainview, Texas 79072-7235 • Telephone (806) 296-1148 • Fax (806) 291-1245
Reasons why the Unger Library does not filter Internet access
• Patrons have unrestricted access to the Internet -- along with the duty for responsible surfing.
• Filters cause more problems than they solve, incompletely blocking illegal sites, and, on the
other hand, restricting access to legitimate ones.
• Filters give patrons — and parents — a false sense of security. Parents are responsible for
establishing guidelines for their own children's activities and should read — and follow — the
guidelines established by the Federal Bureau of Investigation in their online publication, "A
Parent's Guide to Internet Safety."' Also, there are some resources available from the
American Library Association (of which I am a 22 -year member) for helping parents deal with
the Internet.' Finally, an excellent discussion of the children's free speech use of the Internet
along with numerous links to legal websites is Kay Vandergrift's online article "Censorship,
the Internet, Intellectual Freedom, and Youth."5
• Filtering systems are proprietary, i.e., methodology is known only to the company, and usually
filter by URL or keyword, the first so dynamic as to be useless and the latter unworkable.
• Filtering software is easily circumvented.
• Juveniles cannot have filters turned off. Unger CIPA guidelines adults may request that a filter
be turned off but juveniles, who may have legitinrate research needs, may not.
• The library's "Internet Use" policy has been effective. Side-by-side computer placement in the
reference area near the front desk was designed to be somewhat self-limiting and monitoring is
relatively easy. Questionable behavior reported by other patrons (or caught outright by
patrolling library staff) is dealt with immediately through standard, workable procedures.
Conclusion
The Unger Library was the first public library in West Texas -- and one of the first in the
state -- to provide public access to the Internet. Over the years library policy addressing Internet
use has proved effective in restricting access to patently offensive sites. While staff is limited,
watching over the Internet computers, which are located near the Information Desk, is a priority
and periodic checks help encourage legitimate use of these computers. Without creating a spying
environment, patrons are nevertheless encouraged to report suspicious activity to the library staff
as they would with any other questionable behavior elsewhere in the library — and library staff
deals promptly with infractions on a case-by-case basis.
3FBI Publications, "A Parent's Guide to Internet Safety,"
www.fbi.gov/publications/pguide/pguidee.htm.
4e.g., "What Parents Should Know." www.ala.orgicfapps/archive.cfm?path-
parentspapge.lol.htm.
5Vandergrift, Kay E. "Censorship, the Internet, Intellectual Freedom, and Youth."
www.scils.rutgers.edu/-kvander/censorship.html
Library Bill of Rights
The American Library Association affirms that all libraries are forums for
information and ideas, and that the following basic policies should guide
their services.
Books and other library resources should be provided for the
interest, information, and enlightenment of all people of the
community the library serves. Materials should not be
excluded because of the origin, background, or views of
those contributing to their creation.
II. Libraries should provide materials and information
presenting all points of view on current and historical issues.
Materials should not be proscribed or removed because of
partisan or doctrinal disapproval.
III. Libraries should challenge censorship in the fulfillment of
their responsibility to provide information and
enlightenment.
IV. Libraries should cooperate with all persons and groups
concerned with resisting abridgment of free expression and
free access to ideas.
V. A person's right to use a library should not be denied or
abridged because of origin, age, background, or views.
VI. Libraries which make exhibit spaces and meeting rooms
available to the public they serve should make such facilities
available on an equitable basis, regardless of the beliefs or
affiliations of individuals or groups requesting their use.
Adopted June 18, 1948.
Amended February 2, 1961, and January 23, 1980,
inclusion of "age" reaffirmed January 23, 1996,
by the ALA Council.