Filtering software reportedly can inappropriately block over 35 percent of these valuable resources. Filtering software cannot guess the patron's age or whether the site is developmentally appropriate for each individual patron. Herrick staff members are available to educate the user, direct them to high-quality, valuable resources, and involve the parent or guardian of children using the Internet who can then determine what is appropriate for their minor child. In 1997, the citizens of the city of Holland and the townships of Holland, Laketown, and Park voted to make Herrick Library a district library governed by an autonomous governmental board. Neither the city nor the three townships have jurisdiction over the library.
State law permits only the governor to remove district library board members.
The wording of the current AFA ballot proposal in the city of Holland would require the city to withhold funding of Herrick District Library until it installs filtering software on all but one of its Internet computers. The townships do not have a legal vehicle for the AFA to force a similar ballot proposal in the townships. The ballot proposal, if approved, could face expensive legal clarification and challenges by the city, townships, and the library. If the city withholds tax money designated for Herrick District Library, it would break the contractual obligation it made with the library and the three townships to collect and pay its portion of voter-approved taxes. If these taxes are withheld, the library cannot meet its financial obligations to the city building authority.