The Internet Screening in Public Libraries Act was passed last week by a 63-51 vote and currently is being viewed by the state Senate's Rules Committee. The law was proposed in the hopes of preventing minors from accessing and viewing obscene images online using a library computer.
The Library Association reportedly is strictly opposed to the law because of its cost — $10,000 for the filtering software and another $3,000 in annual maintenance — and the fact that these filters provide false security and often filter important information.
The organization's executive director Robert Doyle came up with the idea for all state libraries to protest together in one united demonstration. Doyle said library officials would post notices on their doors explaining why Internet access has been shut down for the day.
Adult industry lawyer Jeffrey Douglas told XBIZ that regulating how patrons use the Internet is unconstitutional, and that the bill is both unconstitutional and foolish.
"Libraries have an especially precious place in our culture," Douglas said. "Librarians are the most sensitive and activist population in America protecting the free flow of ideas, including controversial ones. Someone needs to educate the members of Illinois' lower House who voted for this bill that viewing of sexually explicit material is not only always a 'lawful purpose,' it is a constitutional right."
Douglas added that it is unfair to those who cannot afford Internet access at home to only be allowed access to a filtered Internet.
"Why should only those economically successful enough to have home high-speed access be able to access an unfiltered Internet?" Douglas said. "It is everyone's right, rich or poor."
