Phoenix PL Adds Internet Staff

After mandating that adults had no right to turn off Internet filters at the Phoenix Public Library (see News, LJ 10/1/04, p. 18ff.), city officials have agreed to spend $175,000 for a librarian and three FTE paraprofessionals to help manage the city's "no pornography" policy at public libraries. City Librarian Toni Garvey told LJthat the new positions were recommended by a task force that included representatives from the police department, city manager's office, budget office, IT department, and library.

She said the new librarian, dubbed an Internet resource specialist, would ensure that requests for unblocking wrongly blocked sites were dealt with promptly and would monitor evolving filter technology. The other aides would both assist people with computers and, by their presence, serve as a deterrent to surfers of pornographic sites.

How many requests to override the filter has the library received? "It's all over the map," Garvey said. "We can get 25 in two days, or 25 in two weeks." She said the library was switching from 8e6 Technologies to WebSense and would block the categories Adult Content and Sex for all users.

The library appears to be violating the Supreme Court decision in the Children's Internet Protection Act case, which says adults can ask for filters to be turned off, so will the state affiliate of the American Civil Liberties Union sue? "I don't think so," Garvey said, noting that the library had responded to the concern that it was giving quick access to wrongly blocked sites.

The task force also recommends that the library monitor, track, and save all uploading and downloading at Internet terminals for 30 days; previously it was cleared daily. If there is another allegation that the library was used to download child pornography, "it's easier to put a case together if there's more history," Garvey said, noting that a court order would still be required.