“One of the primary concerns of the Illinois library community is the safety of children,” said ILA Executive Director Robert P. Doyle. “We know there are legitimate concerns about the internet. We know, however, that the best way to protect children is to teach them to guard their privacy and make wise choices. Education will promote safe use of the internet, not laws blocking access.”
The bookmarks are the most recent strategy in ILA’s campaign to oppose legislation that would ban social networking sites from computers in Illinois libraries and schools (S.B. 1682) and require mandatory internet filters on all public and school library computers (H.B. 1727). Although the social networking bill has been held up in the Rules Committee since February, Illinois lawmakers have been debating and amending the mandatory filtering bill since March 14.
Doyle told American Libraries that the filtering bill was pulled from a third reading April 19, apparently so the sponsors can file another amendment. “At this point, I don’t know what that new amendment will be,” he said, “but I would guess that they are attempting to remove some of our more powerful arguments against the legislation.” Doyle suspects that the bill’s sponsors are removing a provision that would fine libraries $100 per day if found not to be in compliance.
The bookmarks are also available for downloading or purchase on ILA’s internet safety page.
Posted April 20, 2007.