Public Comment

LIBRARIES: Facts First

By Thomas Lynch
Friday March 28, 2014 - 05:23:00 PM

In 2000 the American Library Association (ALA) got up in arms about the filtering of library computers. With the help of Playboy and the American Civil Liberties Union they fought filtering and won. Filters violated First Amendment Rights. That news remains in peoples’ heads to this day. 

However, it is not true. The current and correct information is: 

In 2003 the United States Congress took the ALA to court and reversed the decision because any “adult” can have software removed without needing justification. This information did not really get out to the public. 

The library needs filters on the children and young adult computers. Then all the other computers could be filter free and for adults only.