FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Date: July 8, 2003
Contact: Jennifer Stone (619) 531-4766

COUNTY SUPERVISORS OK INTERNET FILTERS AT ALL COUNTY LIBRARIES

SAN DIEGO - The San Diego County Board of Supervisors today unanimously approved the recommendation of Fifth District Supervisor Bill Horn and Vice Chairwoman Dianne Jacob to install Internet filtering software on all Internet-enabled computers available to the public in all of San Diego County's 32 libraries.

"No one has the right to use a public library to look at pornography or to harm children," said Horn. "This is a great community victory."

"Library shelves are already free of pornographic materials and library computers must be too, " said Jacob. "By filtering all Internet computers at our libraries we send the clear message that taxpayer dollars are not going to pay for access to pornography."

The Board's action follows past vigilance by Supervisors to have library staff monitor library patrons who access pornography. Three years ago, the Board approved installation of filters on Internet library computers used by children. A favorable decision last month by the U.S. Supreme Court on library filters allowed Supervisors to add filters to every Internet-enabled computer.

A preliminary estimate is that licensing, software and one year's maintenance for the filtering system will cost about $8,000.

"That's a small price to pay for protecting the most vulnerable among us," said Horn.

The Board directed the Chief Administrative Officer to report to the Board of Supervisors within 60 days on costs, legal considerations and an implementation plan as well as a protocol for adult patrons who wish to view library computers with the filter disabled.