Can libraries be forced to block some Internet surfing?

The Supreme Court said Tuesday it will decide if the government can restrict Internet surfing at public libraries. <br><br>News on Six reporter Patrina Adger says thousands of people use the Internet

Tuesday, November 12th 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

The Supreme Court said Tuesday it will decide if the government can restrict Internet surfing at public libraries.

News on Six reporter Patrina Adger says thousands of people use the Internet at public libraries everyday. Many are children under 18 years old. They have access to hundreds of thousands of websites, some of which contain sexually explicit information.

That's why all 25 public libraries in Tulsa have filtering software to weed out porn. Parent of three, Julie Harkrider, "I cannot be with my children 24 hours a day, however long they might be on the internet. I like to have a little bit of control if I'm not there, their access is limited." Tulsa resident, Paul Webb: â€œA lot of times kids know alot more about computers than parents do, so a filtering device would be good to keep them from getting to places their parents don't want their kids on."

â€œIt has a list of all the sites people cannot visit." Library Division Director Jon Walker says the software does a good job of blocking out porn, but it's not perfect.

He says every once in a while, "pop up" boxes containing porn will appear without accessing that specific site. And non-pornographic sites on health and science will inadvertently get filtered. "We've set up a process here where we will respond to inadvertent filtering quickly and have the local ability to override what the filter does and we can make changes."

Walker believes it's up to the discretion of the institution on whether to require software filters. But notes parents should be able to send their kids to the library to learn without fear of what they might come across when surfing on the net.

"We certainly advise parents be involved with their kids anytime they use the Internet."