AFA Journal is a publication of the American Family Association. Published monthly except November/December. AFA is Christian organization promoting the Biblical ethic of decency in American society with primary emphasis on TV and other media. P.O. Drawer 2440 Tupelo, MS 38803 Phone: 662-844-5036 Fax: 662-842-7798 Center For Law & Policy:   662-680-3386 WAFR Radio:   662-844-8888 American Family Online:   662-840-6464 Founding Editor:   Don Wildmon Editor:   Randall Murphree Associate Editor:   Rusty Benson Copy Editor:   Jessica Huckaby News Editor:   Ed Vitagliano Webmaster:   Buddy Smith Please, no unsolicited manuscripts.

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Radical library organization pushes unrestricted access to pornography

New AFA video warns of danger to children

   AFA has kicked off a campaign to reclaim our nation's public libraries, initiating a showdown with a relatively unknown, but powerful, entity within the liberal establishment: the American Library Association (ALA).

Founded in 1876, the ALA is a private, non-profit organization that claims to be "the oldest and largest national library association in the world," with a membership of 55,573.

The ALA opposes any restrictions on access to pornography in public libraries - even for children. The ALA's Library Bill of Rights states that a "person's right to use a library should not be denied or abridged because of origin, age, background, or views."

ALA spokesman Richard Matthews said, "We recognize that minors have First Amendment rights, and any attempt to treat them differently from adults really infringes on those rights."

AFA and other pro-family groups have called for filtering software to be placed on library computers. The software would block attempts by children - whether by accident or intent - to access porn.

The ALA opposes such solutions with startling vehemence. Judith Krug, director of the ALA Office of Intellectual Freedom, said, "Blocking material leads to censorship. That goes for pornography and bestiality too. If you don't like it, don't look at it."

So rabidly does the ALA hold to such views, that they even provide a link from their own website to another Internet location which instructs children how to turn off the blocking software installed by parents on their home computers.

The ALA has also actively lobbied against any congressional efforts to pass legislation restricting children's access to pornography from public library computers. Currently the ALA is lobbying Congress to reject a measure which would authorize Congress to withhold federal funds from any library or school that does not filter Internet porn.

The ALA wields enormous control over the policies of the public library system in this country, even though the organization has no official or governmental power over public libraries. Instead, the ALA insinuates its views in a variety of ways, including control over the universities that train librarians; establishing job market requirements for most librarians; dispensing sizable portions of state monies for local libraries; training of local library board trustees; and lobbying legislators at both the state and federal levels.

In its Code of Ethics, adopted by the ALA Council in 1995, the organization almost seemed to brag about its power: "We significantly influence or control the selection, organization, preservation, and dissemination of information…. We have a special obligation to ensure the free flow of information and ideas to present and future generations."

But because the ALA has no legal authority over what goes on in local libraries, AFA believes there exists a thus-far untapped reservoir of influence in this battle: local citizens.

"A community's taxpayers own the local library, not the ALA," said Don Wildmon, AFA president. "That means that when people begin learning about the ALA's twisted priorities and the potential for harm to our children, people can change things. But they need to get informed and get involved."

Towards this end AFA is producing a video exposing the radical views and agenda of the ALA. "The project will include comments and insights from citizen activists who have already been in the heat of battle with the ALA, and know their ideological enemy well," Wildmon said. "The video will also provide ways for the average citizen to get involved in making their libraries a safe haven of learning for their children."

The video will be available this fall. Ordering information will be provided in next month's AFA Journal.

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