Media Contact: Jodi Reng, Director (360) 704-4512 or outside Thurston County calling area: (877) 284-6237.

The Timberland Regional Library (TRL) Board of Trustees voted unanimously last night to comply with the Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA). The Act requires that schools and libraries that accept federal funding for Internet access have filtering technology installed on all computers. It is the intention of the Board to provide the broadest possible access to information for adults and children while helping parents who wish to shield their children from the potentially harmful effects of viewing sexually explicit materials on the Internet.

In June of 2003, the Supreme Court determined that the Children’s Internet Protection Act of 2000 does not violate the constitution by restricting Internet Access for minors. An important part of their ruling, however, is that any adult (17 or over) must be able to disable the library’s computer filter without stating a reason. Otherwise, the Library would be violating his or her constitutional rights under the First Amendment. The filter cannot be turned off for minors under age 17.

Peggy Meyer, Board of Trustees member from Mason County made the motion to comply with CIPA, citing that the Act was determined to be constitutional, that the filters have improved and are not blocking access to vital information, and Timberland has a process to unblock sites that are inappropriately blocked.

Timberland Director Jodi Reng states, "We are in the business of providing information freely to all citizens. The fact that, in the past, filtering made it so that some information was not accessible was one of our primary concerns." Of particular concern was the fear of limiting the ability of children and young people to access information that could be important to their health, their education, and their intellectual development. In the years since the CIPA was first enacted, there has been a great deal of progress made in programming and development of the filters and site blockers available for library use.

Timberland wants to work in partnership with parents to help guide their children making informed and responsible use of the Internet. Also, parents who do not want their children to have any access to the Internet at the library can restrict their access.

Under the new policy, if a library patron feels that a site is blocked in error, there will be an anonymous request form to request unblocking the site. The same process will be available to those who find a site that comes through the filter, but that they feel should have been blocked. We feel confident now that our current software will allow patrons to find information on almost any subject while being shielded from most unsolicited sexually explicit material.

Timberland’s previous policy required parents to make an Internet access selection for their children under the age of 18. If a parent did not make a selection, children under age 14 had filtered Internet access when they logged on to library computers, and children ages 14 and over were able to make their own choice of filtered or unfiltered Internet access.

Timberland is also undertaking an awareness campaign to caution people, especially children, not to give out personal information over the Internet to minimize the possible problems with identity theft and personal safety.

Timberland Regional Library has offered Internet access since 1995 at its 27 libraries in Grays Harbor, Lewis, Mason, Pacific and Thurston Counties, as the region’s public provider of life-long learning. Timberland also provides classes and information on Internet use, recommended web sites and Internet safety for parents and children.

In other action last night the Board adopted the 2004 budget of $17.9 million with no reductions or expansion of services planned in spite of revenue limitations due to the passage of Initiative 747. The Board also elected officers for 2004. Peggy Meyer of Mason County was elected President and Edna Fund of Lewis County was elected vice-president.