West Virginia House Passes Library Internet Bill

Staff -- Library Journal, 3/13/2000

The West Virginia House of Delegates has passed HB4802, a bill that would require libraries to adopt acceptable use policies for the Internet. Such policies would prohibit library employees and patrons from sending, receiving, viewing, or downloading illegal material and prevent minors from accessing "harmful to minors" material. According to the bill, libraries could implement their policies by using software filters to block illegal and "harmful to minors" material, charge library employees to "casually monitor patrons' Internet use," or install privacy screens on computers that access the Internet. The library board or other governing authority would be charged with determining what is "harmful to minors." The bill, which is pending before the state Senate, also would require schools to adopt such use policies.