Librarians Protest Mandated Internet Filters For Library Computers

Libraries don’t need a mandate to fight porn
http://www.tallahassee.com/mld/democrat/news/opini on/8440621.htm

Filter fumble

Libraries don’t need a mandate to fight porn

A TALLAHASSEE DEMOCRAT EDITORIAL

Once again, the Legislature wants to force public libraries to install
filters on computers with Internet access. And once again, it’s a bad idea.

Let’s be clear: No one wants kids to be exposed to pornographic material
that is all too available on the Web. But this proposal is an unfunded
mandate for Florida’s libraries – an estimated $1.36 million in start-up
money alone.

At the local level, libraries already use a number of techniques designed to
protect their young patrons, including staff monitoring and separate
computers for children.

Besides, the problem the Legislature presumes to solve is far from epidemic:
According to the Florida Library Association, there were only 569 complaints
about offensive images on library computers out of almost 67 million library
visits in Florida last year. That includes complaints from libraries with
and without Internet filters.

The library association also points out that most commonly available
Internet filters don’t do much to block pornographic images because the
technology is text-based.

The best tools are watchfulness on the part of libraries and education for
young computer users. Parents can teach their children how to use
kid-specific Internet search engines, and many search engines can be
adjusted to screen objectionable material. So why force a measure that could
cost Florida’s libraries an estimated $1.36 million in start-up money alone?

This feel-good gesture is ultimately an empty one.

Re:Libraries don’t need a mandate to fight porn
All the items you listed as state unfunded mandates are federal except pensions and NOT all librarians that work for cities and counties are part of the State retirement system. Many govts have opted out. The state constitution does not allow unfunded mandates of a certain magnitude which this is at. Librarians in Florida are talking about turning the Internet off if this passes so we can still purchase books. Also the co-sponsor of this bill is from Marion County where they want to set up a committee to read every book in the library and purge out any that are not wholesome. If this passes we will be facing a bill like that next year.

The legislature is requiring librarians to judge what is obscene from pornographic or we can be fined $100 per day (our library). We have no way to do so.

This is a local issue and local communities have decided what they wish to do. Florida is a home rule state.