Protocol blocks whole categories of web communications such as IRC and newsgroups. The American Library Association and librarians are traditionally proponents of free speech, unfettered access, and constitutional rights. Librarians have long fought the battle of banned books. So much of what we formerly had to purchase for the reference collection such as encyclopedias, dictionaries, and phone books are now available free on the web. Government information is free on the web.
Books take so long to be published that the information is often dated as soon as it is published.
Electronic databases provide access to journal and newspaper articles through the web. She sued the library after her son downloaded pornography there. Filtering amounts to government censorship and is unconstitutional. But pornographic magazines are protected from sight and purchase by children in stores. People who view pornography are asked to stop, leave or are barred from the library for up to 6 months.