<html><body><div style="color:#000; background-color:#fff; font-family:bookman old style, new york, times, serif;font-size:12pt"><div><br></div><div class="msg-body inner undoreset" role="main" style=""><div id="yiv3098846120"><div><div style="color:#000;background-color:#fff;font-family:bookman old style, new york, times, serif;font-size:12pt;"><div>I'd like to strongly concur in this response from Sheryl Cormicle Knox to the question concerning wireless internet access. <br></div><div style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:16px;font-family:bookman old style, new york, times, serif;background-color:transparent;font-style:normal;"><br></div><div style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:16px;font-family:bookman old style, new york, times, serif;background-color:transparent;font-style:normal;">"I'd like to suggest that "based on P.A. 212 which says minors cannot use
unfiltered Internet in library without parent/guardian sitting next to
child" is not accurate. Here is a summary of the implications of the
Michigan law posted by the Library of Michigan at the time of its
amendment:<br><br>Public Act 212 of 2000(SB 936) effective October 1,
2000, was signed by Governor Engler on June 26, 2000. This amendment to
the Library Privacy Act requires local library boards to adopt and
enforce a policy that restricts minors from Internet access to obscene
or sexually explicit matter harmful to minors. The new section of the
act requires filtering software or some system or method designed to
prevent a minor from viewing objectionable material be used. Libraries
established by community college districts, colleges or universities are
exempt from this new requirement, as are private libraries open to the
public.<br><a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://www.michigan.gov/libraryofmichigan/0,2351,7-160-18668_18689-54462--,00.html">http://www.michigan.gov/libraryofmichigan/0,2351,7-160-18668_18689-54462--,00.html</a><br><br>Here's the act itself: <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://legislature.mi.gov/doc.aspx?mcl-397-606">http://legislature.mi.gov/doc.aspx?mcl-397-606</a><br><br>It
might be accurate to say that your library's system for preventing
minors from viewing objectionable material is to require their parent to
sit next to them, but that system is not required by Michigan law."</div><div style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:16px;font-family:bookman old style, new york, times, serif;background-color:transparent;font-style:normal;"><br></div><div style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:16px;font-family:bookman old style, new york, times, serif;background-color:transparent;font-style:normal;">There
are other ways. Filtering software is - invariably - over-inclusive or
under-inclusive (and libraries often let or encourage commercial
filtering providers filter material that has thing to do with obscenity
and harmful sexual content) and even, if properly categorized, often
filters out material that is clearly not covered by this badly written
and obsolete law. The law covers ONLY "obscene
or sexually explicit matter harmful to minors." <br></div><div style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:16px;font-family:bookman old style, new york, times, serif;background-color:transparent;font-style:normal;"><br></div><div style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:16px;font-family:bookman old style, new york, times, serif;background-color:transparent;font-style:normal;">I
would note that the " parent next to the minor" rule restrict access to
ALL internet access to minors unless the parent is present and "sitting
next to the minor." The minor can't use the internet AT ALL without the
parent. The law does require the parent to accompany the minor. There
is no definition of that word. It says nothing about "sitting next to
the minor." Why couldn't the parent stand, for example? Why couldn't the
parent step away while still viewing the screen? <br></div><div style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:16px;font-family:bookman old style, new york, times, serif;background-color:transparent;font-style:normal;"><br></div><div style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:16px;font-family:bookman old style, new york, times, serif;background-color:transparent;font-style:normal;">The State of Michigan publishes this in Power Point:</div><div style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:16px;font-family:bookman old style, new york, times, serif;background-color:transparent;font-style:normal;"><br></div><div style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:16px;font-family:bookman old style, new york, times, serif;background-color:transparent;font-style:normal;">
</div><div class="yiv3098846120MsoNormal">PA 212</div>
<div class="yiv3098846120MsoNormal"> </div>
<div class="yiv3098846120MsoNormal">•Focus is on <b>minors </b>only, <u>not</u> adults</div>
<div class="yiv3098846120MsoNormal">Amended section 6 of MCL 397.606 as added by PA 37 requiring
the governing body of the library to <b>adopt and require enforcement of a
policy that restricts access to <u>minors</u> to the Internet</b> or computer
systems in 1 of the following ways:</div>
<div class="yiv3098846120MsoNormal"> </div>
<div class="yiv3098846120MsoNormal">•(a) <b><u>Both</u></b> of the following:</div>
<div class="yiv3098846120MsoNormal">–(i) By making available, to<span style="
"> </span>individuals of any age, 1 or more terminals that <u>are
restricted</u> from receiving obscene matter or sexually explicit matter that
is harmful to minors;<span style=""> </span>AND</div>
<div class="yiv3098846120MsoNormal">–(ii) By reserving, to individuals 18 years of age or older
or minors who are accompanied by their parent or guardian, 1 or more terminals
that <u>are NOT restricted</u> from receiving any material.</div>
<div class="yiv3098846120MsoNormal"> </div>
<div class="yiv3098846120MsoNormal"><b><u>OR</u></b></div>
<div class="yiv3098846120MsoNormal"> </div>
<div class="yiv3098846120MsoNormal">•(b) By utilizing a system or method that is designed to
prevent a minor from viewing obscene matter or sexually explicit matter that is
harmful to minors.</div>
<div class="yiv3098846120MsoNormal">–Possibilities:</div>
<div class="yiv3098846120MsoNormal">Internet filtering</div>
<div class="yiv3098846120MsoNormal">Monitoring</div>
<div class="yiv3098846120MsoNormal"> </div>
<div class="yiv3098846120MsoNormal">In Michigan, you <u>must</u> comply with PA 212 whether or
not you apply for E-rate funds.</div>
<div class="yiv3098846120MsoNormal"> </div>
<div class="yiv3098846120MsoNormal"><cite><span style="font-family:Cambria;
"><a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://www.michigan.gov/documents/mde/lm_CIPA_PA212_300204_7.ppt"><span style="font-style:normal;">www.michigan.gov/documents/mde/lm_CIPA_PA212_300204_7.ppt</span></a></span></cite></div>
<div class="yiv3098846120MsoNormal"> </div><div class="yiv3098846120MsoNormal">
</div><div class="yiv3098846120MsoNormal">And, of course, this whole law and policy concern doesn’t address the
situation in which a minor (ages 0-18) is accompanied by a parent who sits next
to them and monitors the minors internet usage <or where the parent is using
the internet and a minor is sitting next to the parent> and the minor can
nonetheless see material that violates the statute on an adjacent or nearby
computer operated by an adult in violation of the law and/or library policy. </div>
<div class="yiv3098846120MsoNormal"> </div>
<div class="yiv3098846120MsoNormal">This happened in Owosso, MI in 2009. <br></div><div style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:16px;background-color:transparent;font-style:normal;" class="yiv3098846120MsoNormal"><br></div><div style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:16px;background-color:transparent;font-style:normal;" class="yiv3098846120MsoNormal">WiFi
networks barely existed in 2000 when this law went into effect. It
applies only to libraries. It doesn't apply to McDonalds, coffee shops,
community colleges, or most other institutions where minors can get
unfiltered internet access. They are now almost ubiquitous. An under 18
college student would be required to bring his or her parent to the
library under the "sitting next to the minor" rule in order to use
unfiltered internet. It seems likely that this law - where a wireless
network is concerned - only impacts those areas where no other Wifi is
available or where the family is too poor to afford it. This may
explain why many libraries seem not to have objections registered to
having filtered or "sit next to the minor" unfiltered internet use. To
most minors and parents, it's irrelevant. <br></div><div style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:16px;background-color:transparent;font-style:normal;" class="yiv3098846120MsoNormal"><br></div><div style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:16px;background-color:transparent;font-style:normal;" class="yiv3098846120MsoNormal">Another perspective.</div><div style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:16px;background-color:transparent;font-style:normal;" class="yiv3098846120MsoNormal"><br></div><div style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:16px;background-color:transparent;font-style:normal;" class="yiv3098846120MsoNormal">Michael D.
McGuire<br>Grand Rapids, MI<br>mdmcguire@yahoo.com</div><div style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:16px;background-color:transparent;font-style:normal;" class="yiv3098846120MsoNormal"><br></div><div style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:16px;font-family:bookman old style, new york, times, serif;background-color:transparent;font-style:normal;"><br><span></span></div><div style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:16px;font-family:bookman old style, new york, times, serif;background-color:transparent;font-style:normal;">
</div><div class="yiv3098846120MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span>“Of all
tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the
most oppressive. It would be better to live under robber barons than under
omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep,
his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our
own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their
own conscience.”<span style=""> <br></span></div><div style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:16px;background-color:transparent;font-style:normal;" class="yiv3098846120MsoNormal"><span style=""><br></span></div>
<div class="yiv3098846120MsoNormal">C.S. Lewis</div>
<div class="yiv3098846120MsoNormal"> </div>
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