The Englewood (Colo.) City Council voted 5-2 in December to install GuardiaNet server-based blocking software on the public library's Internet terminals starting April 1. The vote was against the wishes of the library board, which thought that there were so few offenses it was unnecessary and bordered on censorship. The $108,000 GuardiaNet system will replace the Cyber Patrol software already in place on the children's computers, according to the December 30 Denver Post.
Anyone wanting to log on at the library will need a plastic Smart Card, encoded with a specific level of access. Parents must determine the levels allowable for each child under 18, from full access to a limited selection of “family” sites. Englewood Mayor Tom Burns said there will be a 30-day test run with the software, and the city can cancel the contract if it does not work.
Posted January 4, 1999.