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HomeMy WebLinkAboutIR 8826I [1 The purpose of this Informal Report is to respond to Council's August 22, 2006 request that the Library outline the steps required to restrict Internet access in libraries aimed at filtering oul inappropriate web sites. F_ M. • The Library reviews and updates all policies on a five year cycle. Its Internet Access Policy was last reviewed in 2001. Plans were already underway in late summer 2006 to revisit this policy when Council and the Library received a citizen complaint about inappropriate sites displayed on public computers near the children's area • the Surnmerglen Branch. The Library formed a committee to review the Library's current policies and procedures and make recommendations regarding the use of Internet filters. The Committee included members of Library Advisory Board, 'the Friends of the Fort Worth Public Library, Inc., The Fort Worth Public Library Foundation; and City staff from the ITS, Law, PACS, and Library departments. The Committee was charged with addressing the Library customers' right to access information while also protecting others, particularly children, from inappropriate sites. Internet filters have been available since the early 1990s. They block pages that contain specific words or phrases, that fall into specific categories, or that have specific Internet addresses. They can also block specific functions such as e-mail. Filtering software manufacturers' criteria for categorizing web sites is proprietary; they do not explain why a certain site is categorized the way it is. The buyer (library) is able to select the categories to be blocked, and most products allow the buyer to unblock sites when necessary. ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER - __ ---FORT WORTH, TEXAS Z 7 n* software rarely reviews non-English sites, the software cannot analyze images, and it cannot selectively block the contents of e-mails or video. Beginning in the late 1990s, various laws attempting to mandate filters in schools and libraries failed because filters inhibit First Amendment rights. Any web site that has not been determined by local courts to be obscene, child pornography, or harmful to minors is constitutionally protected speech. In 2000, Congress passed the Children's Internet Protection Act (CIPA), which required schools and libraries that received e-rate discounts for telecommunications to filter all Internet computers. The Fort Worth Public Library does not receive e-rate discounts because our telecommunication costs are comparable to the discounted rates. The Act allows libraries to unblock sites for adults for "bona fide research" and "other lawful purposes." When the Supreme Court upheld CIPA in 2003, Justice Kennedy expressed concern that if unblocking sites for adults took too long or "burdened (the patron) in a substantial way," the library could be challenged for infringing the patron's First Amendment rights. Current Library Policies and Practices The Library does not have filters on Internet computers. The Library's Internet Use Policy does impose certain restrictions on Internet use. Customers agree to this policy before they are able to log on to Library computers: The Library has several procedures in place to help enforce these policies: * Staff monitors screens and takes action if inappropriate sites are displayed. * Screens are oriented toward staff to discourage display of inappropriate sites. * Children's computers are in separate areas where feasible. ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS ] INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS NO. 8826 To the Mayor and Members of the City Council February 20, 2007 *" Page 3 of 4 SUBJECT: PUBLIC LIBRARY INTERNET FILTERING RECOMMENDATION Benchmark Libraries The Committee investigated filtering practices in other libraries: • Dallas, Denton, EI Paso, and San Antonio do not filter. • Arlington, Carrollton, Houston, and Plano filter all computers; staff may unblock sites for adults. • Amarillo filters children's access. • Other libraries serving populations between 500,000 and 800,000: 0 15 filter all computers; staff may unblock sites or turn off filters for adults. At least half of these filter to comply with CIPA requirements. 0 5 filter only children's access (including Salt Lake County, Seattle, and Boston). 0 6 have no filters, or allow users to disable the filters themselves. Survey Findings Between December 6, 2006 and January 3, 2007, 683 surveys were completed by adult library users who were Fort Worth residents. Surveys were available in English and Spanish. 662 surveys were required to meet a margin of error of plus or minus one percent. The full report is available from the Library. • 85% agreed the Library should restrict adult Internet access to pornography; 96% agreed the Library should restrict children's access. • 41 % agreed that filters should be mandatory on all Library computers; 29% believed they should be mandatory only on children's computers; 21% believed they should not be mandatory; 9% had no opinion. Survey results indicated strong support for restricting adults' and children's access to pornography on Internet computers, which is what the Library does now. However, the majority did not advocate for mandatory filters on all computers. The survey revealed strong support for filtering children's Internet access, but not all access. Committee Findings and Recommendations Library Administration has received few complaints from the public. This indicates that there are few complaints, or that Library staff is able to handle most incidents themselves, and the safeguards the Library already has in place are usually sufficient. The Committee recognized the public's expectation that the Library will provide a safe environment for children. Although filters are not 100% accurate, most libraries that filter report few problems. The Committee also considered the Library's responsibility to ensure free and open access to information. ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS I INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 8826 To the Mayor and Members of the City Council February 20, 2007 Page 4 of 4 SUBJECT: PUBLIC LIBRARY INTERNET FILTERING RECOMMENDATION fsss At its February 1, 2007 meeting, the Library Advisory Board approved the Committee's recommendations: • Filter Internet access on youth (under age 17) cards. • Do not filter Internet access on adult cards. • Continue to employ other restrictions already in place. Computer users will have to scan their library card to reserve a computer. There is a setting in the card record that indicates if the cardholder is under age 17. Filters will be activated if the user is under age 17. For additional information, or if you have questions, please contact Library Director Gleniece A. Robinson at 871 - 871 -7707 or via city e-mail. 00 I Wffl- Charles R. Boswell City Manager ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS