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Published on 04/20/1998 All articles from this issue

Internet filters OK'd for library children's rooms

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By Joanne Griffith Domingue

Town Crier Staff Writer

Internet filters to block pornography will be installed on the children's room computers at the Los Altos libraries and in the other nine libraries in the county system, probably by July 1.

At a meeting last Thursday of the Santa Clara County Library Joint Powers Authority Board, the nine members voted unanimously.

"Filtering the children's room is important," said Los Altos Mayor Kris Casto who serves on the board. "It's a partnership that we all share, the vision for our children. But we must keep the message going that parents are still the right source for guidance."

The motion to have one terminal in the adult area filtered, too, did not pass.

More than 50 people, some standing, others sitting on the floor, packed the social room of the Quinlan Community Center in Cupertino.

During the afternoon meeting 29 people, evenly divided for and against using filters, addressed the board.

"Everyone should know that their opinion was represented on the (Internet task force) committee," said Elayne Dauber, a city councilwoman from Los Altos Hills who is chairwoman of the task force that presented the recommendations.

"We struggled to find a middle ground. We all agreed that it is important to teach children how to use the Internet - that they should not give out personal information.

"So there should be ongoing education for their safety," Dauber said.

The board also agreed to three other policies regarding Internet access for children:

That the library staff continue a vigorous program of Internet education, teaching about the dangers as well as the advantages of the Internet;

That the staff develop an introductory page, appearing before Internet access, explaining the library's Internet expectations;

That filters be given a 12-month trial period during which the board may take a rest from discussing the issue.

The Internet Task Force, that was formed in February, came in response to parental concerns about children encountering pornography on the Internet at the library.

About a year ago a group of Gilroy parents created an organization called K.I.D.S, Keep the Internet Decent & Safe, and has been vigorously lobbying the library board.

The county library system serves Alum Rock, Campbell, Cupertino, Gilroy, Los Altos and Los Altos Hills, Milpitas, Monte Sereno, Morgan Hill and Saratoga.

An equal and opposite group of parents, attorneys and library staff have been arguing against filters as a violation of the First Amendment's guarantee of free speech.

A lawyer from the American Civil Liberties Union reminded the board Thursday that children have First Amendment rights, too.

Head Los Altos librarian Carol Tefft worked with the county to test Internet filters. "There are good ones and bad ones," Tefft said. "We wanted to identify the best product."

The filters will be installed on an intermediate server to which the library terminals will be connected.

Cost of the server is $8,000. In addition there will be a $1,000 to $2,000 annual fee for the software filter and updates for about 50 licenses.

In January 1999 the library expects to install Windows NT, which will allow more options for filters.

The Mountain View City Council is the only other group in the county to approve filters on its library computers.

The Gilroy-based group has taken its concerns to Sacramento and a bill is receiving legislative support that would require filters on half of a library's computers.