Kansas: Topeka Library Updates Internet Policy to Reflect New State Law (Kansas Children Internet Protection Act)

From the The Topeka Capital-Journal:

“We work very hard to be in observance of the law and balance that with people’s right to privacy,” said CEO Gina Millsap.
The new policy specifically states its purpose is “to restrict access to materials that are child pornography, harmful to minors or obscene.” Previously, the policy indicated it used filtering and other means to block obscene content more generally.
The new policy clarifies access to filtered materials by those ages 18 years and older, who can ask the library staff to unblock certain websites. Now, the guest has to provide a reason the material should be unblocked based on “legitimate research or other lawful purpose.”
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The board also approved a $9,900 payment to Polaris Library Systems in Liverpool, N.Y., for a software system to manage circulation activities for the new radio frequency identification system. The RFID software will cost $349,882 over five years, paid to Bibliotheca, LLC, of Norcross, Ga.
The library plans to close Thursday, May 1, through Monday, May 5, to convert its some 500,000 materials and install the new equipment.

Read the Complete Article
See Also: The Recently Released 2013 Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library Annual Report
See Also: Learn More About the Kansas Children Internet Protection Act (via State Library of Kansas

Filed under: Libraries, News, Public Libraries, Reports