Internet service in several Illinois libraries went dark May 14, protesting the passage in the Illinois House of Representatives of a demanding library Internet filter bill. While some libraries turned off the net, others installed filters at draconian levels or handed out literature explaining the potential effect of House Bill 1727, the Internet Screening in Public Libraries Act.

If H.B. 1727 becomes law, public libraries would be forced to filter all public computers and provide a companion over the age of 21 for any minor requiring unfiltered computer use, such as for homework research. The language tracks that of the federal Children's Internet Protection Act (CIPA), requiring blocking of obscenity, child pornography, and 'harmful to minors' material, though no filter actually meets those precise standards.

Unlike with CIPA, which has been interpreted, according to the American Library Association, as allowing the disabling of a filter upon the request of an adult, the Illinois bill would require the user to be pursuing 'legitimate research or some other lawful purpose.'

Illinois librarians, on the 'Day of Unity' online forum, described their experiences. Some used test filters and turned them up all the way - a dramatic response, given that the law would not require all filter settings to be enabled. Ruth Faklis of the Prairie Trails Public Library District, Burbank, noted that her library now allows parents to decide if their children may gain unfiltered access, but the law would negate such a decision.

Mike Jackiw, a longtime computer technician at libraries, observed that filters don't block pornographic email or image searches. However, Denise Varenhorst, president of Family Friendly Libraries, posted a message criticizing libraries for denying service to library users 'simply because of the librarians' political views.'

Given that libraries would be required to attest to compliance in writing or lose state per capita aid and grant funds, ILA warned that libraries might have to remove public computers because of potential liability. Libraries would have to purchase their own filtering software.

The bill would have to have been approved before the legislative session concluded at the end of May. (Check LibraryJournal.com for updates.)