2008 Woodie Awards
Council discusses filters for library
Jovanni Colisao
Issue date: 11/15/07 Section: News
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"There wasn't a policy decision made today," said Michelle McGurk, public information officer for Mayor Chuck Reed.
The main thought expressed by the majority of councilmember's was to keep analyzing the type of filters and technology that are available.
She said the mayor and councilmembers will hear back from the library director and the city attorney in mid January to see how the work plan is going, and that in early 2008 the council will have the opportunity to finally make a decision.
In an interview Nov. 13 with the Spartan Daily, the councilman said he was not pleased with people accessing pornography.
"This is something that has been occurring for quite a while. I was shocked to find this out," Constant said.
Jane Light, San Jose Public Library Director, said she was not shocked about the outcome.
"I didn't expect them to make a decision today," Light said.
McGurk said the Rules and Open Government Committee is a place where councilmembers bring policy ideas and decide what they need to explore.
Light said she did, however, expect them to take the report from the city attorney and to simply accept or modify it. The members of the council did accept it and asked for a status report by mid-January.
McGurk said the long process in making a decision is very typical.
She said a similar situation regarding banning smoking in public parks in San Jose was brought to the rules committee by two members of the council in May or early June and multiple factors were explored - including costs and police enforcement -before it went to the council for a final vote.
"It's the way the system works," said McGurk.
One parent said that he is a former librarian in San Jose and has never experienced anything regarding someone viewing pornography.
Another parent said, "If it's not broke don't fix it."
Amy Silva, a senior English major said she is for blocking certain things she believes can be harmful to children, but thought there were other important issues the city might focus on.
"I think the money could go somewhere else," she said. "Instead of spending money on filters, you can spend it on the less fortunate."
She said that libraries are a public place and there should not be tool to aid people in what and what not to view.
McGurk said that yesterday's meeting was just another step in the process.
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