The Greensboro (N.C.) Public Library trustees approved the use of filters December 20 to prevent children from accessing offensive materials on the library’s 130 public terminals. However, with the exception of the children’s section in the downtown branch, patrons may choose whether or not to have the filter active.
The board saw voluntary filtering as a viable alternative to parental consent forms for Internet usage, according to the December 21 Greensboro News-Record. Director Sandy Neerman said that requiring parental consent is “an act of discrimination against children who do not have parental involvement in their lives. It just sets up a scenario where some kids would be denied access.”
Board Chair Richard Gray, who coaches a children’s soccer team, agreed. He said he had difficulty getting players’ parents to sign medical releases for “only 18 kids. The library has to deal with thousands.”
Posted January 3, 2000.