Karen Schneider, director of the Garfield Library of Brunswick, New York, and American Libraries "Internet Librarian" columnist, was a featured speaker at a May 7 presentation to Senate staffers on the pros and cons of Internet filtering and other issues related to S. 1619, the Internet School Filtering Act, which would require libraries and schools to certify they have installed Internet filtering software before receiving universal-service funds.
Schneider discussed various filtering systems and described the Internet Filter Assessment Project, for which she served as project leader. The forum also featured Nancy Willard of the University of Oregon College of Education, whose work on Internet policies in the K-12 school environment emphasizes the development of local use policies and personal responsibility.
The forum was sponsored by the Internet Free Expression Alliance, which includes the American Civil Liberties Union, Computer Professionals for Social Responsibility, and the Electronic Privacy Information Center.
Posted May 18, 1998.