A Valentine’s Day in Court

February 14, 2002, is the day when the American Library Association (ALA) will square off in court against the U.S. government over the constitutionality of the Children's Internet Protection Act. The law requires schools and libraries receiving e-rate discounts and certain other federal aid to install technology that filters the Internet. ALA is suing only on behalf of public libraries. According to regulations implementing the law, e-rate recipients don't have to actually install filters until next July, but they must confirm this year that they're moving toward such an installation.