IFRT Filters Debate

[Burt, David]

I mailed the following letter to Library Journal:

The Intellectual Freedom Round Table did a disservice to attendees of
the "To Filter or Not to Filter" program at ALA by filtering out any
voices of dissent from the panel. The program description of "To Filter
or Not to Filter" seemed to promise a lively, thought-provoking
discussion, "How does a library maintain its intellectual freedom
policies and still respond to community and government complaints?
These and other issues will be discussed at this timely program", it
advertised.   Instead, what was presented was a dry rehashing of the now
very familiar party line of ALA OIF/IFRT on the perils of filters.

The moderator and program organizer, Fred Stielow of the Mid-Hudson
Library System, and the five panelists each denounced the use of
filters, but none, save attorney Bruce Ennis covered any new ground.
Toward the end of the program, many in the audience looked visibly bored
and disinterested.  The afternoon was partially salvaged by some
interesting comments from Mr. Ennis, but it wasn't enough to make up for
the deep disappointment over the panel' s lack of diversity.  There are
a number of leaders in the library community with strong, articulate
voices of dissent from ALA/OIF doctrine on the filtering issue, and the
panel would have benefited greatly if one of them had been included.
Marilyn Gell Mason, Brenda Branch, or Jean Armour Polly comes
immediately to mind.  A representative from one of the filtering
vendors, especially Cyber Patrol, would also have been most welcome.

During the question and answer period, I raised this issue by asking why
nobody who supported filters was on the panel, and how was this
consistent with the principles of intellectual freedom, which brought
applause.  Mr. Stielow answered that "the panel was put together at the
last minute, and their would be room for discussion from the floor".  It
is to be hoped that future programs sponsored by IFRT on filtering will
include more that just the party faithful, faithfully mouthing the party
line.



David Burt
dburt at ci.oswego.or.us
Information Technology Librarian
Lake Oswego (OR) Public Library
(503)675-2537