Rochester Library Gets More Time To Develop Filter Policy

-- Library Journal, 5/1/2007

While a task force investigating an appropriate Internet policy for the Rochester Public Library, NY, was supposed to finish by last week, it has received a brief extension in order to work out some knotty issues. On February 28, a threat by County Executive Maggie Brooks to hold back $6.6 million in funding unless all pornography was blocked led the library to suspend its practice of unblocking Internet filters for adults. That was supposed to last 60 days.

While the task force was expected to have a report and policy recommendation ready by the end of April, the addition of two public forums on April 16 and 18 "pushed the information gathering process out longer than anticipated," library spokeswoman Patricia Uttaro told LJ. "A summary of public opinion has been compiled for the task force but that will not be released to the public until the report is made to the boards" of the Rochester Public Library and Monroe County Library System. The board meeting is expected to be held this month, but no date has been set yet. The Rochester Democrat & Chronicle reported that a prompt resolution is important, because city officials, who are preparing the budget for the next fiscal year, want to know whether to expect money from the county.