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Filter Law Flusters South CaroliniansThe South Carolina State Library asked in early August for clarification of a new state law requiring all publicly funded libraries, except those in academic institutions, to filter 90% of their public Internet workstations. “It really is the state telling local governments how to run their affairs,” Deputy Director John Landrum told the Associated Press August 7. Enacted as part of the state budget, the law requires libraries with “computers available for use by the public or students or both” to block sites displaying pornographic pictures or text. Noncomplying libraries are to lose half their state funding, which would be divided equally among compliant libraries. But State Library trustees decided to distribute funds as usual in the first fiscal quarter, while House Majority Leader Rick Quinn (R-Columbia) awaits an opinion from the state’s attorney on the law. “We’ve got to protect these children, even if it’s to the detriment of some of the local library boards,” Quinn declared. Unresolved issues include whether public-school libraries are affected and whether Lexington County, which filters all its public-library computers, must remove blocking software from 10% of its machines. Posted August 13, 2001. |
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