Orland Park Library Porn Policy An Issue In Board Election
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Elections for library board members normally would not draw much attention, but they do when using free Internet to access pornography becomes a campaign issue.
It was a year ago when dozens of Orland Park packed library board meetings, after complaints of visitors using computers to view pornography in the library.
Trustees had voted to uphold the library policy of allowing adults to use the Internet without any filters, and access any legal content, as long as it did not disturb others, especially children.
Officials have set up safeguards to prevent children under the age of 18 from using adult-only computers, and privacy screens block what passersby can see. Youth computers also have filters to block harmful material.
After continued complaints about library visitors accessing pornography, and $125,000 spent on legal fees to defend its policy, the library board might be about to change.
Nominating petitions for two spots on the board will be accepted until Monday, and already five newcomers have filed to run for the board.
Not all candidates have said Internet access is part of their platform, but the issue has remained in the spotlight and is expected to take center stage before the February election nonetheless.