Internet Filtering Software in Public Libraries

According to the American Library Association, over 15% of public libraries in the United States who provide their patrons access to the internet has filtering software to prevent patrons from accessing pornographic material inappropriate for children. Filtering software often not o only blocks pornographic sites, but also blocks sites dealing with scientific and artistic information of interest to library patrons. Austin Public Library has been struggling with this problem, attempting to balance to rights of adults to access information with the need to protect children, and are having problems finding a compromise that pleases everyone.