Published on Dec 19, 2008
Lisa Rutledge, Times Staff
The Cambridge Library Board is closing the book on computer filter debates but angry parents say the story’s not over yet, threatening to take their fight to city hall.
Despite three delegations pleading for the installation of software programs to prevent downloading of pornography on library computers visible to children, the board decided to send letters to parents advising them to supervise children while at the library.
The board’s decision to uphold its policy not to employ Internet programs for reasons of censorship or the possibility they might block legitimate websites came as a shock to parents.
“This is definitely not the end,” said Rob Nickel, a retired police officer and cyber safety expert. “I have never been so disappointed in a board of directors.”
The speaker and author, who uses filtering programs on his home computer to protect his children, insisted there’s no validity to the arguments that programs will interfere with educational research.
“I can’t think of any reason why Internet filtering can’t work.”
He promised to do anything in his power to force local libraries to install software to prevent pornographic images and videos from being displayed on the public computers.
Nickel witnessed graphic images being downloaded at the Queen’s Square library branch last summer and said it was in plain view of children. Since then, he has taken up a local fight to have library computers equipped with safety software.
Concerns about protecting children must take priority over censorship arguments, he told the board in his delegation.
“There’s people’s rights and then there’s doing what’s right.”
And after seven years of hunting down pedophiles online as part of his job, he said he knows what perverts are out there and the lengths they will go to get their “jollies”.
It wasn’t an easy job, he admitted.
“But I loved it because we were making a difference.”
After leaving the meeting held at the Clemens Mill library branch Wednesday, Nickel and a group of parents gathered in the library to plan their next move. In addition to addressing city council, he plans to take his message to Queen’s Park as a show of support for MPP Gerry Martiniuk’s private member’s bill calling for mandatory Internet filters in libraries.
He encouraged people to sign Martiniuk’s petition and is inviting feedback via e-mail at www.cyber-safety.com . He is promising to put the topic of Internet filters on library computers on the national media agenda and insists he hasn’t met anyone who has disagreed with the cause.
Also addressing the board was Cambridge mother Kathy Fitzgerald who described two incidents during which she and her son were exposed to explicit pornography on library computers. One of those times was on a computer set aside for kids. She quoted studies claiming that it only takes three-tenths of a second for an image to become locked into memory.
Speaking as a resident, Cindy Watson, a public school board trustee, urged the board to strike a committee consisting of law enforcement, legal counsel, educators, parents and computer experts to find a compromise that will protect children.
She warned that the board would only continue to hear from parents if nothing is done.
Kim Fowler, executive director of Fiddlesticks Neighbourhood Association, left Wednesday’s board meeting in disgust. She plans to take the issue back to her own board of directors and will address city council. She knows the city is preparing budgets for January and suggested that pressure from the city, which funds the library, might help.
“It’s public money,” she said.
Fowler, who has a teenage son, said the risks are too high that children could be exposed to porn.
“Quite frankly, I would rather see all the computers taken out,” she said, in the interest of safety of children.
That would be unfortunate, she noted, as some people can’t afford computers at home.
Chief librarian Greg Hayton said the board won’t comment on the backlash from parents at the meeting but maintains that the board has already dealt with the issue of filters and will uphold its policy. The delegations aren’t going to affect the board’s decision, he said.
