Review Federal Government
Programs that Direct Libraries to
Provide Filtering for Internet Access
Michelle Perera
May 16, 2023
2City of Sunnyvale – City Council – May 16, 2023
• Internet filters are software that prevents users of a computer from accessing certain websites. They are predominantly used to block content considered inappropriate for specific users.
What is Filtering on Internet Access Computers?
3City of Sunnyvale – City Council – May 16, 2023
• Enacted by Congress in 2000
• CIPA imposes certain filtering requirements on computers purchased with federal discounts/grants in schools and libraries. • Must block or filter content that could be harmful to minors What is the Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA)?
4City of Sunnyvale – City Council – May 16, 2023
CIPA Compliant Not CIPA Compliant
FY 2012/13 87 (48%) 94 (52%)
FY 2015/16 95 (52%) 86 (48%)
FY 2021/22 112 (61%) 72 (39%)
California Public Libraries – CIPA Compliance
• Sunnyvale Public Library does not use filters.
• As of FY 21/22 FY , no Santa Clara County Libraries use filters. 5City of Sunnyvale – City Council – May 16, 2023
What Federal Money is Available to Libraries?
• Federal grants to libraries available through the Institute of Museum & Library Services (IMLS)
• Federal pass through funds – money given to the California State Library from the IMLS to be made available to California libraries through a grant program (LSTA – Library Services & Technology Act). • E-rate funding for reduced telecommunications costs for eligible libraries 6City of Sunnyvale – City Council – May 16, 2023
Funding Impact on Sunnyvale
• Can apply for Federal grants to libraries available through IMLS but NOT for computers/devices/access to Internet.
• Can apply for California State Library LSTA grants but NOT for computers. (California State Library receives $15.9 million annually and grants a portion of that annually). Sunnyvale has received approximately $100,000 in last year.
• During pandemic, $7.5 billion was available through ARPA funds for internet access and devices. Sunnyvale was not able to take advantage of that. That money is no longer available.
• E-rate funding for reduced telecommunications costs for eligible libraries 7City of Sunnyvale – City Council – May 16, 2023
Benefits / Challenges of Filtering
Why Should We Filter?
• Access to federal grants funding
• Increased security on library
computers (block unwanted
sites)
• Reduced staff intervention when
patron is looking at illegal or
inappropriate content
Why Shouldn’t
We Filter?
• American Library Association
opposed on basis of First
Amendment Rights
• Individuals should make own
decisions about content they view
(no patron complaints)
• CIPA related document retention
• Potential filtering of useful
websites
8City of Sunnyvale – City Council – May 16, 2023
Questions?