internet schminternet! it just a place for online predators to look for underage girls on myspace, right?

Even though library officials said acquiring the software wasn't a compromise, Bos sees it as a victory for the AFA.
"We were only trying to protect women and children," said Bos, who hasn't been to the Herrick library since the filtering issue occurred.
"We wanted filtering on everything. Pornography is illegal. Why would we want something illegal like pornography in our library of all places?"

This is an excerpt from the front page article of my local paper. It was 6 years ago that the American Family Association zeroed in on the little conservative haven known as Holland, Michigan. Their issue? Internet filters at the library or rather the library's lack thereof. In February of 2000 the AFA managed to get a measure on the ballot asking the city to withhold funds unless the library installed filters on all of their computers. Despite this being the land o'family values and a Republican stronghold, the measure failed: 4,379 to 3,626 (it was a flawed ballot measure, imho, as only the city of Holland was able to vote and did not include the surrounding townships that do support the library with their tax dollars, but we won so who cares, right?) That was the year Michigan passed PA 212 which required libraries in Michigan to 1. have an internet policy that included 2. steps to make available 1 or more terminals to minors that restricted obscene or sexually explicit matter that 3. reserved 1 or more terminals for adults 18+ or minors with parental consent that were not restricted and (my personal favorite!) 4. utilized a system or method that was designed to prevent a minor from viewing obscene matter or sexually explicit matter that is harmful to minors. Because, you know, we can all agree that what's harmful to one minor is harmful to them all!

Later that year Congress passed CIPA which essentially requires all libraries to have filters (that usually don't work, ahem). Period.

So this is where things stand here:

Downtown we have 34 public computers.
2 are unfiltered.
9 have email capability where those over 18 can check their email.
17 filtered all ages computers near circulation.
6 filtered computers upstairs in the children's department.

Our internet policy also includes these words:

As required by Michigan Public Act 212 of 2000 and realizing that filtering software is not completely effective, the Library will take all actions reasonably necessary and possible to prevent minors from accessing obscene material or sexually explicit material deemed harmful to minors (as those terms are defined by state law) in their use of the Internet.

How exactly the AFA thinks of this as a victory, I really don't know. We had no choice but to follow state and federal law. We didn't lose our city funding and we weren't required to put filters on all of our computers per the AFA's request. And the city of Holland made it pretty clear that the AFA's ballot measure was not something they, as taxpayers, were interested in pursuing.

I really do appreciate Mr. Bos' concern for my safety as a woman however I'd like to welcome him to the 21st century.

I'd also like to remind him that the viewing of pornography by adults 18 and older isn't illegal and despite the Patriot Act, most library employees feel that it is an individual's right to view or obtain any legal information they see fit without their privacy being invaded by anyone.

I'd also really love to know why he even cares. By the look of the picture in the paper, it appears as though he's fortunate enough to have private access (be it through work or at home) to the internet and by his own admission he hasn't visited the library since the filtering issue occurred over 6 years ago. It must be nice to not worry that certain medical or legal information might be blocked as a result of a less-than-stellar filtering software.