PCBL Home     Mission and History     Board Members and Officers     Membership     Meeting Dates     Newsletter     Activities     Awards     Education and Advocacy     Tax-Exempt Information     Links     Contact PCBL		Education and Advocacy Pennsylvania Citizens for Better Libraries at its Board Meeting on Friday, May 11, 2001 in Harrisburg, PA unanimously supported the following Principle adopted by the Pennsylvania Library Association: Statement of Principle -- April 2001 Local Decision-Making for Public use of the Internet in Libraries The Pennsylvania Library Association asserts that: * Libraries and librarians are partners with parents, teachers, and local officials in working to help their residents become information literate. Librarians teach adults and children to access, evaluate, and wisely use all information resources, including the Internet. * The education and nurturing of children has always been and continues to be a paramount mission at Pennsylvania¹¹s libraries. * Pennsylvania¹¹s librarians deplore any misuse of library computers to access or display obscene materials found on the Internet. * No local library policy in Pennsylvania supports access to or display of obscene materials in the library, either in print or on computers. Librarians conscientiously enforce their local policies. * Under Pennsylvania law, every public library in Pennsylvania has adopted an Internet use policy that prohibits use of its computers by minors to access materials that contain or make reference to explicit sexual materials as defined in the law. * Under Pennsylvania law, library policies (including access to the Internet) are the responsibility of local community library boards and professionally trained librarians. * Local library boards are made up of dedicated Pennsylvania citizens who unselfishly volunteer their time, talent, energy, and sound judgment. These individuals are in the best position to set local library policies for the communities they serve. * The fact that Pennsylvania's locally adopted policies have resulted in infrequent occurrences of abuse or illegal use of the Internet demonstrates that: 1) Pennsylvania's librarians and trustees are performing their jobs conscientiously; 2) Libraries are responsive to local community needs; and 3) Technology and management techniques are working effectively. These techniques may include: providing Internet training for children, adults and families; creating lists of recommended web sites for all ages; placing computers in public view and adjacent to staff areas for ease of supervision and assistance; requiring parental permission for Internet access; and selective use of filtering or site blocking software. Therefore, the Pennsylvania Library Association strongly supports the authority of Pennsylvania's local library boards to determine the appropriate measures for educating and responding to the needs of citizens in their communities. Further, the Pennsylvania Library Association opposes action by the state or federal government to override the respected tradition of responsible and effective decision-making at the local level.
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