INTERNET FILTERING

[Filtering Facts]

Chris Lott wrote:
> If a child enters a library and puts his hands on material that
>you find offensive, then perhaps you should re-evaluate your decision to
>allow him free reign within an institution whose collections must cater to a
>larger variety of tastes than just your own. Perhaps as a parent you should
>ask yourself why your child seeks such materials and why he was in such a
>place without supervision. A library is not a romper-room, it is not a
>babysitter, it is not a room with no sharp objects and padded walls... it is
>not a place to leave your child to do as he pleases with tools that could
>allow him to do something you think damaging anymore 

You'd think the past year would have softened some of you guys.  After all,
ALA has taken a real public beating, as have many librarians.

No, a library is not a romper room.  But it's also not an adult bookstore,
either.  

Most of us currently live in communities where it is a community
responsibility to protect children from pornography. Adult book stores,
X-rated movie theaters, and strip clubs are off-limits to minors. When a
public library decides to offer unrestricted access to children, it has made
a fundamental, radical change to the community, without the community's
consent. The library has in effect decided for the whole community that it
is no longer a community responsibility to protect children from
pornography, it is now solely the parent's responsibility. That's wrong. 

Advocates of open access for children argue that parents need to teach their
children the critical thinking skills to decide for themselves what
resources are appropriate. 

This makes as much sense as placing an adult book store in a the local
shopping mall in between Walden Books and Toys R Us, allowing minors full
access, and telling the parents of the town that it's now their
responsibility to teach their children not to go inside and look. Nor do
public library children's rooms purchase "Hustler", place it next to
"Highlights", then inform parents that it is now their responsibility to
teach their children how to decide not to open the magazine and look at it.

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David Burt	President, Filtering Facts
Website: 	http://www.filteringfacts.org
E-Mail:  	David_Burt at filteringfacts.org
Phone/Fax:	503 635-7048