Filtering Began July 1, 2003

A divided Supreme Court decided on June 23, 2003 to uphold the Children's Internet Protection Act (CIPA).   As a result of the ruling, all public libraries receiving federal funding MUST put Internet filtering software on all the computers in the library -- or lose all federal funding.

In WV the filtering software has been installed at the state level.  The software uses identified addresses not "keywords" to block sites.   This means that the software is less likely to block "appropriate"  sites;  however, as the list of blocked sites is updated nightly, there may be "inappropriate" sites that slip through the filter.  No filter is perfect.

 If you are 18 or over and sites you need to access are blocked, please ask the librarian to override the filter for you.  

If you are under 18 and need access to a blocked site, you may bring in a parent who may then request that the filter be turned off..  The parent must stay with you until the filter has been re-activated.

For more information about the law and its impact on public libraries, click here.  If you have any questions specific to this library, please ask your librarian.