Keywords
Citation
Fitzsimons, E. (1999), "The high cost of free access", The Bottom Line, Vol. 12 No. 4. https://doi.org/10.1108/bl.1999.17012dab.003
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 1999, MCB UP Limited
The high cost of free access
The high cost of free access
Keywords: Libraries, Internet, Children, Law
Potential loss of E-rate funding is not the only expensive intellectual freedom decision. Trustees have ordered staff to review the Memphis-Shelby County (Tenn.) Public Library's three year old Internet use policy and test drive filtering software. The mandate follows county commission threats to withhold $4 million in funds until the library produces a plan for restricting access to online pornography. The recommendation came three weeks after Colorado Governor, Bill Owens, vetoed $2 million in collection-development grants in protest against the lack of filtering in the libraries there. Memphis-Shelby County Public Library is to submit a report by September.
At the Georgetown Township Library in suburban Grand Rapids, Michigan, it is the users who will have to pay to use unfiltered computers – $100 per hour. The township administration established the policy in reaction to a new state law that says libraries may provide filtered machines that block "matter that is harmful to minors," as long as they provide at least one unblocked computer for adults and chaperoned minors. The law is an amendment to the patron confidentiality statute, and is in contradiction to the trustees' unanimous February decision to install blocking software in all workstations. According to Michigan Library Association executive director, Marianne Harzell, the law will not be a problem for most libraries since it does not mandate filtering.
Eileen Fitzsimons is Development Editor, Neal-Schuman Publishers, New York, NY.