Internet Pitfalls Overshadow Positives at Federal Hearing

Staff -- School Library Journal, 12/1/1998

Gaining on the American Library Association's no-filtering-for-any-age policy is a call for Internet access policy decisions to be made locally. At least that was the overall message of the testimony given last month at an open hearing called "Kids and the Internet: The Promise and the Perils."

As a first step in developing a set of recommended guidelines for library Internet access, a group of 17 librarians, child advocates, civil liberties lawyers, and representatives from conservative groups offered testimony at a hearing in Arlington, VA. The hearing was called by the National Commission on Libraries and Information Science (NCLIS), an independent agency that advises the White House and Congress on library issues.

ALA President Ann Symons cautioned that filters can "offer a false sense of security" but allowed that "local decision-making is what [ALA is] about." Several other speakers gave testimony on the danger of pedophiles finding children through Internet chat rooms, provoking lengthy discussion on whether libraries should provide e-mail and chat room access. NCLIS will use the testimony to formulate recommendations on Internet access for release early next year.