Victory in Loudoun County

[Filtering Facts]

Reprinted with the permission of the Campaign for Northern Virgina and
Family Friendly Libraries:

Leesburg, VA -- Loudoun County Library Trustee Richard H. Black's policy was
adopted by a 5-4 vote by LCPL board of trustees at a special meeting,
October 20th, at Rust Library in Leesburg, VA.

"This policy is the front-line against the American Library Association's
open access policy", said Leesburg resident Dixie Sanner, spokesperson for
Enough is Enough, a national anti-pornography organization.  "The policy is
a model for the entire country," and it has been supported by the American
Center for Law and Justice.

Black's policy is based on Title VII of the Civil Rights Act that bans
pornography that creates a hostile environment.  The policy mandates
software porn-blockers on Internet facilities to block child pornography and
obscenity under federal statutes, and material harmful to minors under the
Virginia Code.

"We Won", Black says.  "We have blocked pornography from our public
libraries, and we hope other jurisdictions do the same.  If a federal judge
were inclined to tamper with our policy, he would be forced to overturn a
whole line of federal precedents dealing with sexual harassment in the
workplace."


                        LOUDOUN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY
                    POLICY ON INTERNET SEXUAL HARASSMENT

GENERAL:
1.  Title VII of the Civil Rights Act prohibits sex discrimination.  Library
pornography can create a sexually-hostile environment for patrons or staff.
Pornographic internet displays may intimidate patrons or staff, denying them
equal access to public facilities.  Such displays would transform the
library environment from one of reading and scholarship to one which invites
unwelcome sexual advances and sexual harassment.  Permitting pornographic
displays may constitute unlawful sex discrimination in violation of Title
VII of the Civil Rights Act.  This policy seeks to prevent internet sexual
harassment.

2.  Historically, the library has not selected mere pornography for book,
magazine, or video collections.  It will not do so through the internet.

INTERNET SERVICES PROVIDED: The internet will be accessible except as follows:

1.  E-mail, chat rooms, and pornography will not be provided;

2.  Site-blocking software (software that specifies site, rather than by
suspect-word category) will be installed on all computers.  To the extent
technically feasible, such software will:

a.  Block child pornography and obscene material (hard-core pornography)

b.  Block material deemed Harmful to Juveniles under applicable Virginia
statutes and legal precedents (soft-core pornography).  Public access to
such material could create and unlawful, sexually-hostile environment, and
might incite dangerous criminal conduct.

3.  Internet computers will be installed in close proximity to, and in full
view of, library staff in order to:

a.  Discourage efforts to override the blocking software; and
b.  Provide patrons a secure environment against sexual harassment when
using the internet.

4.  Patrons will not be permitted to use the internet to access pornography.
Persons using the internet to access material in paragraph 2, will be told
they are violating the Policy on Sexual Harassment.  If they continue, they
will be told to leave the library.  If they refuse, they will be considered
in trespass, and police may be called to remove them.  Children's parents
will also be notified unless the child obeys the first request to stop.

CHILDREN:

1.  Because blocking software may not be completely effective, parents will
be accorded the maximum control over children's access.

2. Parents or guardians must give written permission for children under 18
to access the internet.  Parents or guardians must personally appear and
show proof of identity before filling out the access form, and personally
present it to library staff.  Children's cards will then be overstamped to
verify parental permission to use the internet.  Parents may revoke
children's access for any reason.

SEVERABILITY:  If a court overrules a provision of this policy, remaining
portions remain in effect.



*****************************************************************************
David Burt, Filtering Facts, HTTP://WWW.FILTERINGFACTS.ORG
David_Burt at filteringfacts.org