Library Board Stuck With Filtering Battle It Didn't Want

Staff -- School Library Journal, 8/1/1998

The Loudoun County (VA) Public Library board is in a strange position. Last year, the board decided to require Internet filtering software on all its computer terminals. Almost immediately, the stringent policy drew a high-profile lawsuit.

But over the last two months, the board lost two members who supported the controversial policy and gained two members who apparently favor a less restrictive approach. That transformed the pro-filter group into a minority. And that leaves the board facing a legal battle over a policy it doesn't support, and which, based on a pre-trial decision, it seems unlikely to win.

What happens now? The board could change its policy, but doing so before the trial, expected in the fall, would be difficult procedurally, said board member Bob Twigg. And John Czaplewski, the board's new chair, said whatever action the board takes at this point will involve "conversations with our attorney." "Anything we do right now," he said, "has to be done with a lawsuit in mind."