7-1 Vote FOR Internet Filters in Owosso, MI

A library board has voted 7-1 in favor of installing Internet filters. Here's likely why:

• "The Shiawassee District Library's adult content policies came under scrutiny in May when Owosso resident Catherine Loxen told the Board her granddaughter witnessed a man using a computer to view adult material earlier this year."
  

• "'I went up to two of the unfiltered computers and did a history check,' Spencer said. 'I was curious to see if people were seeing any type of pornography still on the computers.' Spencer said the history search revealed that several Web sites may have been used for child pornography - which is illegal and against library policy."

It is refreshing to see a library board acting with common sense. And to the lone person who said, "Once you start filtering, it leads into the free speech issue," please read US v. ALA.

See: "Owosso Library Moves to Regulate Porn Viewing," by Nathan Bruttell, The Argus-Press, 3 July 2009, reprinted here under US Copyright Section 107 Fair Use:

Owosso Library Moves to Regulate Porn Viewing
By NATHAN BRUTTELL
Argus-Press Staff Writer
Friday, July 3, 2009 10:04 AM EDT

OWOSSO - The Shiawassee District Library Board has begun the process toward regulating adult material at the Owosso branch.

The Board voted 7-1 during is June meeting to filter online content. Travis Senk cast the lone dissenting vote. Shiawassee District Library Director Steven Flayer said he is researching optional online filters and would present them to the Board at its July 22 meeting.

“The Board has also directed me to increase the physical barriers around the unfiltered computers, which we have been doing,” Flayer said, adding that the measures for changing the library's policy may continue.

“I think the Board will look at this matter again (at the next meeting) to determine whether it's meeting the needs of our patrons,” he said.

The Shiawassee District Library's adult content policies came under scrutiny in May when Owosso resident Catherine Loxen told the Board her granddaughter witnessed a man using a computer to view adult material earlier this year.

Senk said while he wasn't happy with what happened with Loxen, he didn't agree the library Board should be the authority.

“I don't think limiting what everyone else can do is a fair response. I feel that if we start trying to filter everything we're going to be in violation of library policy acts,” Senk said. “Once you start filtering, it leads into the free speech issue.”

Loxen's story also brought the attention of local Internet filtering company Covenant Eyes. Vice president Bill Spencer presented information to the Board at its June meeting.

“I went up to two of the unfiltered computers and did a history check,” Spencer said. “I was curious to see if people were seeing any type of pornography still on the computers.”

Spencer said the history search revealed that several Web sites may have been used for child pornography - which is illegal and against library policy.

“What I told the Board is basically that there isn't anybody that would believe these images were not of young people under the age of 18,” Spencer said.

Spencer added he asked the Board about the library's policy of not allowing access to child pornography.

“The library, in its policy, has defined what obscenity is, yet for some reason (the Board members) think it's wrong to filter the Internet content,” he said.

Flayer said to his recollection, the Board could not make changes because Spencer could not present facts that the subjects of the Web sites were underage.

“He was basing his findings, the way he presented it to the Board, that it was child pornography based on how old he though the models looked,” Flayer said. “Of course we're attempting to eliminate these things, but it's not going to be perfect.”

Flayer said the library has begun to filter content on most of the computers in the library using current software.

“(Covenant Eyes) states on its own Web site that no filter is going to be 100 percent effective,” Flayer said. “How can they complain that our filter is not getting everything after saying that? The effort is being made to limit it as much as possible.”

Adult Services Librarian and assistant director Margaret Bentley said while she understands the problem, it is out of her hands.

“Whatever the Board decides, I will have to follow,” Bentley said.

Durand Memorial branch librarian and assistant director Nancy Folaron said she has not seen issues with adult content at the Durand branch.

“We only have seven computers and all of them are fairly close to the desk, so we can keep an eye on them,” Folaron said. “It's not like the Owosso branch where the computers are in a separate area and out of view.”

Folaron also said the branch currently uses no filtering software, but would make appropriate changes based on the Board's July vote.

Senk said he believed the issue might be continue at the library for some time.

“We're not done working on it at the library,” Senk said. “It's a complex issue and it's not solved easily.”

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