ALA Hosts Summit With Filtering Vendors

Staff -- School Library Journal, 5/1/1999

On March 12, the American Library Association (ALA) held its first-ever meeting with representatives from filtering software companies. The meeting suggests that ALA has recognized it can't ignore the diversity of positions on filtering within its own organization.

For the 25 librarians and vendors who attended the meeting, the summit provided an opportunity to cordially exchange information. The participants all say the process was useful. But it doesn't mean that the filter makers will fine-tune their products to library specifications.

Indeed, ALA President Ann Symons reminded the group that only a minority of libraries use filters, and even if a perfect product were developed, it wouldn't necessarily be adapted by libraries.