Request that your Representative and Senators contact the omnibus bill negotiators to urge that the Istook amendment imposing filtering requirements on libraries and schools be dropped. Use the reasons that mean most in your library situation or that you feel would be persuasive.
Timing is urgent.
Negotiators are already behind schedule and could finish today or within the next 24 to 48 hours. The Istook amendment, requiring public schools and libraries as a condition of receiving federal funds from any federal agency for the acquisition or operation of computers to install software to protect children from obscenity, may be added to the final omnibus funding bill now being negotiated by House and Senate leaders. All materials subject to copyright by the American Library Association may be reprinted or redistributed for noncommercial purposes with appropriate credits.