Allegheny County, PA, To Require Reports of Internet Incidents

-- Library Journal, 05/25/2005

The Allegheny County Council, Pittsburgh, has approved a resolution requiring annual verification that all libraries in the Allegheny County Library Association (ACLA) comply with laws regarding Internet use, as well as an annual review of filtering software used by ACLA’s Electronic Information Network (eiNetwork) and annual reports by each library of incidents that result in contact with law enforcement officials. The resolution was sponsored by Councilman Vince Gastgeb (R-Bethel Park), after two 12-year-old girls at the Bethel Park Library saw a man at a computer next to them viewing a chat room that offered visuals of nude women wrestling. According to the resolution, that incident “indicates that the filters being used are not sufficient to block material that is harmful to minors, or that policies allowing for bypassing of the filters are not being responsibly implemented.”

“ACLA was consulted early in the process and was able to explain the nature of filtering software (including its deficiencies, which was born out by other experts in the field),” ACLA director Marilyn Jenkins told LJ. “We also were able to suggest a partnership with law enforcement officials in developing an education program around potential problems and exposure libraries face due to Internet access and steps we can (and do) take to address those problems. We will be developing the anonymous reporting format for our libraries. Overall, this process has developed a stronger partnership between county government and the library community.”