The Pershing County Library Board voted Thursday to move toward compliance with the federal Children’s Internet Protection Act, approving up to $500 for internet-filtering software and adopting an updated computer and internet-use policy.
Library Director Kameron Mitchell said compliance with the law, commonly known as CIPA, would allow the library to use federal grant money for computers, internet-connected equipment and technology programs.
The library already receives federal funding for some programs, Mitchell said, but cannot use that money for technology without a filtering system. Requests for computer classes and technology instruction have increased, and an available grant could provide equipment to record local oral histories and folk stories.
CIPA requires schools and libraries receiving certain federal technology assistance to adopt an internet-safety policy, hold a public meeting and use technology that blocks material considered obscene, child pornography or harmful to minors.
Mitchell said internet filtering is controversial because software may block legitimate research while failing to catch all objectionable material.
Board member Coni Jo Brinkerhoff discussed school filters that prevented her students from accessing news articles for research on subjects such as war, gun laws, abortion, marijuana legalization and same-sex marriage. She said, as a teacher, she was able to overide unnecessary blocks and wondered if the library could do the same.
Mitchell said he would be able to allow access to websites that were unnecessarily blocked. However, the process could create privacy concerns for patrons researching sensitive subjects.
Adults could request that a filter be disabled for legitimate research, but the library would be required to record the person’s age, the date and time and the purpose of the request. A minor would need an adult to make the request.
Mitchell said patrons researching a private medical or personal matter could be placed in the uncomfortable position of explaining their needs to a library employee.
“You’re between a rock and a hard place,” he said.
The filtering requirements would apply to staff computers, public computers and the library’s public Wi-Fi network. Mitchell said personal devices would not be treated as library-owned equipment under guidance he received from the state, although patrons could not openly display inappropriate material where children might see it.
Mitchell presented several software options. DNS Filter would cost $25 per device annually, or about $275 for the library’s current 11 devices. Clean Browsing would cost $150 per year and cover as many as 50 devices.
A third service offered through the nonprofit technology provider TechSoup appeared to cost about $8 annually, but Mitchell said he had not received enough information about what it included.
The board approved spending up to $500 and gave Mitchell the flexibility to choose the program that best meets the library’s needs. One of the services offers a 14-day trial.
The board also approved an updated computer and network-use policy reflecting CIPA requirements.
Board members discussed protecting information provided by patrons who request that filters be lifted. County Manager Kristin Gonzalez said the county has confidentiality agreements for employees in departments that handle sensitive information and could work with the library on an agreement suited to its needs.
In other business, Mitchell reported that 67 children participated in the library’s six summer-reading programs. He said last summer’s attendance of more than 90 children was unusually high and this year’s participation was closer to normal.
Chairperson Ariana Gonzalez said her children loved the summer reading programs.
The library’s Smash Bros. video-game tournament attracted six participants, while a recent Magic: The Gathering session drew 12.
Five children participated in the latest Dungeons & Dragons campaign, 22 people attended game night and 11 attended two book-bedazzling sessions.
Mitchell said summer programming has drawn 150 participants so far, including 124 children and 26 adults.
The library is also preparing to receive approximately 1,000 donated books from the prison as it updates its libraries. Mitchell said books that are not suitable for the library’s collection will be accepted on behalf of the Friends of the Library and placed in the book sale.
Mitchell also contacted swimming pool director Marti Nolan about having the library assist with or take over preparation of the community summer-activities booklet next year.
The booklet was not produced this summer because organizations did not submit information in time and Nolan was dealing with emergencies at the swimming pool.
The next regular Library Board meeting is scheduled for Aug. 27 at 10 a.m.
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