Libraries and the Internet Toolkit
Tough Questions on CIPA
Why did ALA challenge CIPA in the federal courts?
As written, the Children's Internet Protection Act failed to protect children while limiting access to legal, useful information for all library users.
No filtering or blocking technology exists that blocks access only to speech that is obscene, child pornography or harmful to minors. In addition, no filtering technology protects children from all objectionable materials. Filters, therefore, provide a false sense of security, suggesting children are protected when they are not.
Filters are contrary to the mission of the public library, which is to provide access to the broadest range of information for a community of diverse individuals. Filters have been shown to block access to medical information, political information and information related to the arts and literature.
The American Library Association believes strongly that CIPA may still be found unconstitutional, especially in situations in which adults are not provided unfiltered access to the Internet.
If libraries oppose CIPA and filters so much, why don't they just give up the federal money? What's the big deal?
Some libraries have chosen to forego federal funds because they oppose filters, others will be forced to forgo funding because the filtering requirements are cost prohibitive. For many libraries, especially those serving low income or rural populations, there is no choice. Without federal funding they will not be able to provide Internet access for their communities.
The E-Rate and LSTA target low-income communities, helping libraries bridge gaps not just in access to technology, but also in the availability of useful content and in the learning of skills necessary to utilize information successfully. Regrettably, forcing libraries to choose between funding, equitable access, and censorship means millions of library users will lose, particularly those Americans who reside in the most poverty-stricken areas of the country.
- The federal e-rate program (the Schools and Libraries Universal Service Support Mechanism) provides discounts to assist most schools and libraries to obtain affordable telecommunications and Internet access. The annual e-rate fund of $2.25 billion allows eligible schools and libraries to purchase networking equipment, telecommunication services, internal connections, and Internet access at substantial discounts.
- The Library Services and Technology Act. On September 25, 2003, President Bush signed H.R. 13, the Museum and Library Services Act of 2003 into law (Public Law 108-81). The legislation sets the authorization level for library programs at $232 million. If funding is achieved at that level, the new formula distribution would take place and the base amount given to each state would double. Since the formula was first set in 1971, this change would help small states, while holding harmless large states. The legislation reauthorizes the Museum and Library Services Act until 2009.
