'Censorship' loses meaning in Web age

In response to Dan Shanahan's letter about censorship, I think he has failed to redefine "censorship" in a way that makes sense in an online world. But then, is it even worth trying to redefine that word in any issue related to the Internet?

If the Information Age continues with no boundaries, it won't be long before "censorship" goes the historical way of "prohibition" and "suffrage."

We all know that any information is readily gotten from myriad online sources and that any teen is techno-savvy enough to find it.

Hiding information is not the issue with the library and its link to the Planned Parenthood site. The issue now is what implications are made by the connections between one Web site and another. It seems inarguable that a single-click connection to a corporation constitutes an endorsement of that corporation.

If the library Web site contained a link to a handgun dealer, wouldn't that imply that the community of Batavia approves of that dealer in particular and handguns in general? And what if that link were placed in the section meant for teens, perhaps on the grounds that some teens desire handguns and so should know how to use them wisely? From that point the what-ifs are innumerable, but I'll stop for fear of being ridiculous.

Why would a public library get involved in an area so controversial and potentially harmful as handguns?

Janet Dant

Batavia