The Sno-Isle Regional Library board has voted unanimously to require filters for sexually explicit material whenever kids use library computers. The Everett Public Library, meanwhile, opted leave filtering up to parents.
The library boards reacted this week to a June U.S. Supreme Court decision upholding the Children’s Internet Protection Act, which denies federal Internet funding to libraries that do not require filters for kids 17 and younger.
The Sno-Isle system faced losing about $8,300 in federal Internet funding if it rejected the filters. The Everett library stands to lose $416.
The six-member Sno-Isle board made its decision Monday, accepting a committee recommendation in favor of filters, library spokeswoman Mary Kelly said.
"It was a legal interpretation and a practical one," Kelly said. "The (Supreme Court) ruling says not only that libraries could filter, but they should filter. That’s a powerful statement from the highest court in the land."
The library system, which won approval from voters in November to increase its property tax levy, also couldn’t justify losing the federal money, she said.
The Sno-Isle Internet filtering for those 18 and younger will be in place by July, Kelly said. Prior to the board’s decision, a parent could override the filter.
Eight to 10 percent of kids with library cards had unfiltered Internet access, she said. Those parents will be notified of the board’s decision. Libraries will also have information available about the change.
In Everett, the library board unanimously decided Tuesday night to continue allowing parents to decide whether their children should have unfiltered access to the Internet.
"We have a very responsible policy that has been in place for a while," said library spokesman Steve Ooton. "We’re trying to do the best we can for the community."
Although the library will lose the federal Internet funding, it would have cost more to reconfigure its computers in order to comply with the act, Ooton said.
Under current policy, parents decide when applying for their children’s library cards whether to allow full access to the Internet. That information is coded on the library cards, and librarians turn on filters for minors whose parents request them.
The parents of more than 83 percent of library patrons under 18 choose filters. But the parents of nearly 1,300 children want full Internet access for their children, according to the Everett Public Library.
Reporter Katherine Schiffner: 425-339-3436 or
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