Safe Surfing

More than 14 million people across the United States use public library computers,but the computers will soon become safer for your children. Internet filters, it`s something Joplin libraries have had in affect for years. But this week the Supreme Court announced the government can require public libraries to use filters which block pornographic sites. But not everyone is supportive of the decision. "We don`t think the government has any business getting in on this.We think this is a local decision. We would have made the decision to filter for the children`s computers regardless of what the government said,"said Carolyn Trout,Joplin Library Director. The Joplin library has 20 computers all with the filter programs on them. And surfers at the library don`t seem to mind the surfing with a net."I really haven`t had any problems with those types of systems. There are a few things not able to get to. Some things like fire arm sites that I like to look at. But I don`t see that as a problem. Those sites can be seen elsewhere," Darren Wiley,Approves of the Filters. And the Webb City Library also uses filters and have found them to be successful. "We have had amazingly few complaints about the filters. We had many more complaints before we filtered. The filters do interfere a little bit with the operating systems of the computers. They are not perfect," said Sue Oliveira, Webb City Library Director. The Supreme Court justices ruled that the government can withhold money from libraries if they don`t install the filters. If you would like to download some internet filters, then log onto the download.com website.Here is a link. http://download.com.com/3120-20-0.html?qt=net+nanny&tg=dl-2001 Reported By:Brad Douglas