Libraries in Illinois fight plan for computer restrictions / STLtoday - News - Illinois News: "SPRINGFIELD, Ill. -- Public libraries throughout Illinois took the political battle over Internet freedom directly to their own patrons on Monday, lobbying libraries' computer users to oppose state legislation requiring software that filters out pornography.

As part of a loosely coordinated, one-day statewide campaign, libraries in the Metro East area passed out fliers, bookmarks and, in one case, installed computer screensavers -- all calling attention to what librarians say is an onerous proposal that would infringe on the budgets of libraries and the privacy rights of library patrons.

A handful of libraries in other parts of the state made that point by shutting down their own Internet services for the day.

One conservative group claims the lobbying efforts may have been an illegal use of public resources.

'They're using taxpayer time to defend the rights of perverts who want to look at porn in the public library,' said David E. Smith, executive director of the Illinois Family Institute, which is promoting the legislation. 'Librarians are government employees. If they want to lobby on their own time, that's fine, but don't do it on my dime.'

Most public libraries have anti-porn policies, and many already have filtering software in place to adhere to federal funding requirements. But the proposed state law would go further, being specifically tied to state library grants and imposing new requirements that librarians claim are philosophically and logistically troublesome.

'I don't see any problem going up against legislation that's potentially harmful to the community,' said Barbara Rhodes, director of the Collinsville Memorial Public Library.

The library passed out on Monday bookmarks that display a stop sign and encourage patrons to call their state lawmakers to oppose the Internet-filtering legislation.

Rhodes acknowledged that the bookmarks were produced with public library equipment. 'If we put out (anti)-child-abuse bookmarks, they wouldn't be opposed to that,' she said. 'This (legislation) gives a false sense of security' about kids being safe on the Internet at libraries.
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