With it, people can take charge of their future. Librarians take seriously the First Amendment limits on government, of which we are a part, and we promote intellectual freedom because that's the only environment in which learning can thrive. Libraries are not prescriptive, we do not endorse the contents of our collections or judge the information people seek. Librarians cannot nor should not substitute for parents. These important Internet decisions must be made by parents.
Libraries are tax supported institutions generally providing no-fee public services.
We ensure that each person has the opportunity to learn and discover new ideas and different opinions. In recent years, that has meant adding Internet access to prevent a Digital Divide between those with access to electronic information and those without. Not having Internet access is becoming a form of social marginalization, but even owning a computer is not enough if a person lacks the skill to use it effectively. The skill divide is as important as the economic divide. I believe the Virginia Beach situation, which is typical of what is happening across the country, supports how these responsibilities are taken fully and seriously.