Librarians want local control of harmful content

A state law that would require Web filtering in libraries was on the minds of many trustees and legislators at the annual North Suburban Library System Legislative breakfast Monday.

The state House passed a bill last year that would require each library to have "a technology protection measure to prevent the display on a public computer of any visual depictions that are obscene, child pornography or harmful to minors."

While library members who attended the breakfast said filtering may be a necessary tool, many agreed that they didn't want that decision to be made on a state level.

"It should be a local decision," said Kip Kolkmeier, a lobbyist for the Illinois Library Association who spoke at the breakfast. "There are good, smart people that can make those determinations (on the local level)."

The bill will now go to the Senate, and Kolkmeier urged legislators to talk to their colleagues about the issue.

Many of the dozen Senate and House representatives at the breakfast agreed with the librarians, saying they trust their local politicians to make those kinds of decisions.

"I'm always for local control," said State Rep. Sid Mathias, a Republican from Buffalo Grove. "We shouldn't be out there second-guessing you."

Kolkmeier also brought up issues of budgetary constraints at the 18th annual breakfast for the group that represents libraries in Cook, Lake, McHenry and Kane counties.

He said libraries statewide have been getting less and less funding over the years, and even a small increase would benefit constituents.

"Remember us," he said. "Support us in these moderate funding issues. Help us ensure we can do our jobs."

State Sen. Susan Garrett, a Lake Forest Democrat, said that libraries are truly a great equalizer for the community, giving those who don't have computers access to the Internet.

"We have to be vigilant to push back on filters," she said.