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Vol. 8, Issue: 6| February 23, 2015
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Oppose Mandatory Statewide Public Library Filtering Legislation
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Rep. Peter Breen (R-48th District, Lombard) has introduced House Bill 2689 to create the Internet Screening in Public Libraries Act, requiring each public library to have a "technology protection measure" to prevent the display on a public computer of any visual depictions that are obscene, child pornography, or harmful to minors. It allows a public library to disable the technology protection measure for an adult engaged in legitimate research, but that term is completely undefined. Requires the State Librarian to adopt rules to implement and administer the Act. Amends the State Finance Act to create the Internet Screening in Public Libraries Fund for the purpose of imposing fines under the Act. Finally, it amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without any reimbursement for the cost of filtering.
The ILA position on filtering is that this is a local decision, a position the Illinois General Assembly has adopted in defeating many previous attempts to establish statewide filtering. Contact your elected official in the Illinois General Assembly and urge them to oppose this latest attempt to force a filtering mandate on all public libraries. If you live or work in or near Representative Breen's district it is critically important that he hear from you personally!
Talking Points
ILA supports local control. Local officials -- library trustees, librarians, and other professional library staff -- are the most qualified to decide how Internet access should be provided to their patrons. House Bill 2689 overrules all local decisions and imposes a "one size fits all" approach. It is especially important that school and public libraries that have installed filters call. While this bill would not impact your operations, please state your opposition to the bill and stress the importance of local control!
Filters Hurt Libraries
This legislation is an unfunded mandate that overrides local control.
Filters Don't Work
Study after study have demonstrated that filters consistently block important information on science, health, political, and social issues and regularly allow objectionable material to get through. This creates new liability for libraries.
Filters are Expensive
Paying for filters diverts scarce resources from limited technology budgets -- money that could go to buying more computers, and paying for more reliable and faster Internet access.
Filters are Inflexible
Filters don't know if the person using the computer is 5, 21, or 65. This "one size fits all" approach treats adults, even senior citizens, like elementary school children. The user doesn't even know what they are being prevented from accessing. We can't expect patrons to ask to unblock computers when they don't know what that particular filter has blocked.
Filters are Biased
Private companies and groups with commercial, political, or religious agendas design filters to block what THEY find objectionable, including political candidates, social causes, basic health information, and even information on their own product's faults.
Filters Hurt the Poor
Less-wealthy communities are the most in need of technology because more of their patrons lack these resources at home. This legislation forces less-affluent areas to choose between filling this need or spending money just to block access.
Finally, the Illinois library community has been a leader in promoting Internet safety and supports all efforts particularly funded efforts in promoting Internet safety.
Start calling now.
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Revised 2015 ILA Palm Card
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The revised 2015 ILA Legislative Palm Card is now available on
on the ILA website, featuring ILA's legislative priorities for the 99th Illinois General Assembly 2015 Spring Session and the 114th U.S. Congress First Session. If you're not meeting with your local representatives at one of the ILA Legislative Meet-ups, please use this Palm Card and schedule an appointment with your Representative and Senator in the Illinois General Assembly.
Click here to view or download in PDF.
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| School Libraries Need Your Help NOW! | |
Federal legislation reauthorizing the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) could have a major impact on school libraries, and Illinois voices need to be heard NOW. Senator Mark Kirk could play a role in supporting an amendment that would provide dedicated funding for effective school library programs, so please contact him TODAY at 202-224-2854 or Senator Kirk's Chicago office 312-886-3506 and let him know how important those programs are to student success.
Key message: Ask Sen. Kirk to support an amendment being proposed by Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse to include the principles of S 312 (SKILLS Act) in the ESEA bill in Committee. The amendment will provide dedicated school library funding. Call from your home phone and enlist others, especially parents of elementary and secondary school student to call! |
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Sincerely,
Robert P. Doyle
Illinois Library Association |
Libraries of Illinois Risk Agency (LIRA) is a group insurance pool for ILA institutional members that offers potential savings for property, casualty, and workers compensation coverage for libraries. Click here to learn more.
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The Fund for Illinois Libraries was created in 1990 to help Illinois libraries in their fundraising efforts.
The purpose of the fund is to enable libraries to receive gifts from individuals or organizations that can only make donations to 501(c)(3) charitable organizations.
For more information, please click here.
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- New posts are listed within 48 hours of receipt of your listing
- Job posts are advertised in the ILA E-Newsletter
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