NCLIS Statement Does Not Endorse Mandated Filtering

Staff -- Library Journal, 1/11/1999

While the American Library Association's strong stance against libraries' use of filtering software was criticized strongly at a November 10 open hearing held by the National Commission on Libraries and Information Science (NCLIS), the organization has issued a much tamer resolution, stating that governing boards of schools and public libraries should establish, approve, and review "a written acceptable use policy statement on Internet access." Executive Director Robert Willard told LJ that NCLIS also planned to issue a brochure this month laying out issues for legislators and library leaders, but that the organization, which last year announced it opposed mandated federal legislation, would not change its position. "If local libraries decide to put filters on some of their computers, that certainly will be in the ambit of their right," he said. A full hearing record is expected in February or March. (For a response to the NCLIS resolution, see John Berry's Feb. 1 editorial)