American Libraries |
||
Site Navigation
Left Sidebar ItemsOnline Features
Follow American Libraries news stories, videos, and blog posts on Twitter.
|
||
Filtering Bill Stalls in Illinois SenateAccording to Illinois lawmakers, the Internet Screening in Public Libraries Act (H.B. 1727), a bill that would require filters on all public libraries in the state, appears unlikely to make it out of committee in the Illinois Senate. The legislation passed 63–51 in the state House of Representatives May 2, which prompted many Illinois public libraries to protest by taking part in a May 14 Illinois Library Association–sponsored “day of unity” by shutting off or limiting their internet access and expressing their concerns to state senators. Opponents of the bill worry that their victory is only temporary, and that the oft-proposed legislation might be revived next session. “Every year, the same issue comes up,” Megan Heligas, administrative librarian at the Flossmoor Public Library, said in the May 30 Chicago Tribune. “Instead of focusing on educating parents and children to use the internet safely, [legislation] is focused on penalizing the library board for its own local decision.” But supporters of mandatory library filtering are not convinced by librarians’ belief that filters are ineffective, prohibitively expensive, and block constitutionally protected websites. Meanwhile, ILA Executive Director Robert P. Doyle announced May 30 that MySpace would print another one million Internet Safety Bookmarks for distribution at the American Library Association Annual Conference in Washington, D.C., June 21–28. The bookmarks, which offer cybersafety tips, will be available in packets of 75 for every attending library staff member. Posted June 1, 2007. |
Right Sidebar
|
|
