N.E.O.N.

SMART CARD

Mar 02, 1999

Council approves "Smart Card" Internet access at the Englewood Public Library

Englewood's City Council recently authorized the contract for the installation of a "smart card" Internet access control system for the Library. Beginning in late April or early May, all patrons who wish to use Library computers to access the Internet will be issued a photo-identification card with one of two access levels: virtually unlimited access (anyone accessing obscene or pornographic web sites will be denied future access privileges) or limited access to the 3,500-5,000 sites available via the online internet Kids & Family

Yellow Pages." Parents of patrons under age 18 will be asked to determine the appropriate access level for their children.

The Englewood Public Library is the second library in the nation to implement this type of tiered Internet access. The Library administration has worked hard to strike an appropriate balance between protecting children from potentially inappropriate web sites and providing legitimate, constitutionally-protected information for adults..