S.C. Bill Aims to Remove Public Libraries’
“Harmful to Minors” Immunity
A bill introduced by South Carolina Sen. Mike Fair (R-Greenville) January 26 would remove public librarians’ immunity from prosecution for making available materials deemed harmful to minors under state law.
Libraries “should not enjoy special protection,” Fair explained in a press release, since they “have been unwilling to respond to legitimate concerns of the communities they serve.” Two days before he proposed S. 1076, the Greenville County Library board stopped short of mandating Internet filters for minors, although it did establish a policy requiring that parents be present whenever their 12-to-17-year-olds go online there. GCL made national headlines when Republican presidential candidate John McCain accused GCL officials January 21 of allowing a group of pornography-viewing adults to routinely monopolize the library computers there.
ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom Director Judith F. Krug told the Associated Press that while she understands Fair’s concern, it’s inappropriate “to place criminal liability on those whose role is not to serve as the Internet police, but to provide information.”
Posted February 7, 2000.
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