Opinion ID: 2630165
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Limited Resources

Text: ¶ 74 A public library providing computer access may, consistent with article I, section 5 of the Washington Constitution, filter Internet access without disabling that filter to allow access to all web sites containing constitutionally protected speech. The reason is simple: in determining the makeup of their collections, public libraries have limited resources, including computers; some libraries in this case have only one or two. Public libraries may determineby filteramong the vast sea of educational and informational materials which materials are appropriate for the libraries' collections. The number of available computer terminals is a more limited resource for many public libraries than the amount of available shelf space and funds to buy books. ¶ 75 Scarcity of resources is particularly relevant in the present case. The North Central Regional Library District's (NCRL) twenty-eight branch libraries in five rural counties also serve as school libraries for fourteen school districts. Sixteen branches have only one or two computer terminals available for patrons. Twenty branches are staffed with only one librarian. Public libraries have the traditional role of obtaining material of requisite and appropriate quality for educational and informational purposes. United States v. Am. Library Ass'n, Inc., 539 U.S. 194, 211, 123 S.Ct. 2297, 156 L.Ed.2d 221 (2003). Public libraries are necessarily empowered with discretion to make quality-based judgments on how to allocate their limited resources, including finances and shelf space, in building their collections. Some content-based decisions have been held to strict scrutiny. Collier v. City of Tacoma, 121 Wash.2d 737, 749-50, 854 P.2d 1046 (1993). However, due to public libraries' traditional role, their collection decisions to allocate scarce resources are not subject to strict scrutiny, but instead are subject to the rational basis test. Protecting patrons (including minors) from obscene material and increasing the library's capacity to provide literary, scientific, historic, and other materials clearly satisfies the rational basis test. ¶ 76 This analysis applies directly to a library's online collection as well. Removing NCRL's Internet filters would allow patrons to access online pornography and other materials currently unavailable because they are not selected for collection, resulting in increased demand for an extremely limited resource: available computer terminals. In many libraries, children would be displaced from computer terminal use to allow adult access. The libraries are thus exercising quality-based collection judgments to determine the best way to fulfill their traditional role. These decisions are viewpoint neutral. Rationales for the Internet filters include protecting patrons (often children) from offensive, disturbing, and illegal material, conserving resources, and safety. These are sufficient to satisfy the rational basis test, especially given the dual school-library function of many of NCRL's branches. ¶ 77 The analysis should end here. Unfortunately, I must also address the majority's improper discussion of article I, section 5.