Los Gatos Weekly-Times

Editorial

Filtering software is not the answer

Los Gatans have made it clear that they believe Internet access should be available to them at the Town Library. Thanks to a state library grant, the funding is in place and a commitment has been made to purchase a PC-based computer and modem.

Whether the library will actually connect to the Internet is a decision that rests with the Town Council. We can't imagine why they would say no.

After all, the Internet is quickly becoming a part of our everyday lives. Students turn to it for research; job hunters check out prospective employers; future scientists even look at real photographs of the Mars landscape.

The Internet also lets users look at dirty pictures and learn how to make bombs. And that's the aspect of this wonderful tool that could bring pressure to bear on the council.

Many parents are concerned that unrestricted Internet access in libraries would allow their children to wander into virtually unsafe territory.

Town librarian Peggy Murray says any decision about restricting use will be made by the council.

But Murray does say that filtering software--touted by some groups as the best way to protect children from access to indecent material--would unfairly block information to which adults have rights.

Those charged with protecting First Amendment rights--librarians and journalists, for instance--have a difficult time arguing in favor of censorship of any kind.

When children and adults enjoy equal access, however, the task of defending the First Amendment can become clouded.

Still, we think that there are better ways to protect children from the dark side of the Internet than to install filtering software.

Such software would not only censor what children can access, it would make it impossible for a college student, for instance, to research a report on breast cancer because the filtering software can't distinguish between a scholarly reason to search for "breast" and a prurient reason.

We like the system they've worked out in Berkeley: Children can use the Internet only with a signed permission slip from parents. One would hope that parents know their children well enough to know whether they will use the privilege responsibly.

These days, many parents think of the library as a babysitter; it's a "safe" place for children to go after school before parents get home. If these parents are fearful of where their children might wander with Internet access, they should not give permission for them to use it.

For the rest of the library patrons, particularly those who do not have home computers and Internet access, freedom of speech should not be restricted because the library has by default become a community babysitter.

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