At the Central Arkansas Library System, librarians use the same selection criteria for Web sites as they do for books. Only, they review Internet sites after receiving a complaint and review printed and taped materials before purchasing them. With the exception of the Main Library, computers in the Central Arkansas Library System's branches sit in open places like the reference section. The Jackson County Public Library not only has a policy against pornography, but also prohibits patrons from using chat rooms, where people can send instant messages to others they don't know. Fayetteville's public library has no filters but allows parents to decide whether their child gets access to the Internet.
Permission is denoted on the child's library card.
Without it, the child cannot log on. In Garland and Faulkner counties, pressure from patrons has pushed the libraries to go a step further. Both systems block pornography from children's computers with filtering software and require youths to have supervision from a legal guardian when using unfiltered terminals. The Springdale Public Library plans to follow their lead when it adds computers to its children's section later this summer. More Arkansas libraries are considering this approach to avoid trouble with the general population, said Carolyn Ashcraft, coordinator of extension services for the Arkansas State Library.