On January 22, the library board of Prince William County, Virginia, voted 7 to 3 to allow full Internet access on library computers located outside the children's areas. The decision followed the results of a survey of adult patrons in which the majority preferred unfiltered access.
Director Richard Murphy told American Libraries that all new Internet-accessible computers will have Library Channel software--a preselected collection of 20,000 Web sites--installed as an interface. Terminals for children or young adults will be restricted to the Library Channel sites.
Murphy said the software could be installed as early as April. In the meantime, the board has asked for new rules that empower staff members to bar patrons from graphically sexual material. Murphy is examining the library's current policy on "acceptable patron behavior" to see whether on not it is broad enough to cover inappropriate Internet conduct.
Posted February 2, 1998.