The Los Angeles Public Library is beginning a 90-day trial program in seven branches in which the Internet browser of three computers in or near each of the facilities' children's areas will default to child-oriented search engines such as Yahooligans or Jeeves for Kids. The intent, City Librarian Susan Kent told American Libraries, is to “minimize” incidents in which unsuspecting minors might inadvertently access a harmful site. However, Kent said, “no child will be told to use only these machines,” emphasizing that “We're not using filters.”
Librarians are responding to City Council members' concerns, Kent explained, although Internet problems to date have stemmed from patrons objecting to explicit sites adults are visiting.
According to a January 28 Los Angeles Times story, City Council member Mike Feuer and Rudy Svorinich Jr. endorsed the test program as a good first step before voting on a citywide policy.
The above is a revision of a story posted to American Libraries Online on February 5, 1999, stating that LAPL was testing Internet filters.
Posted February 8, 1999.