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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 24, 2003
Contact: Patricia Fraga, Austin Public Library, (512) 974-7528
Fax: (512) 974-7442
Supreme Court of the United States
Upholds Child Internet Protection Act
In a ruling of six to three the Supreme Court upheld the Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA), which forbids public libraries from receiving federal assistance for Internet access unless they install software to block obscene or child pornographic images and prevent minors from accessing material harmful to them.
The Austin Public Library implemented filtering software in 1997 as a result of public concerns raised by both library customers and employees. Due to the nature of the Internet, its evolving use in public libraries created the possibility of civil and criminal exposure for library staff and for the City of Austin. Under Texas law it is a crime to distribute or exhibit material that is “harmful” to minors, or to be reckless about “whether a minor is present who will be offended or alarmed by the display” of harmful material. The Austin Public Library offers Internet access in 22 library locations and has at least one unfiltered (recessed) Internet computer at each location. To gain access to these unfiltered machines you must be 18 years of age or older.
For more information about this ruling and opinion visit the American Library Association web site at www.ala.org
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