Intellectual Freedom Committee, American Library Association

The Intellectual Freedom Committee of the American Library Association (the oldest and largest national library organization in the world) works to educate librarians and the public on the importance of providing individuals with free access to all points of view. In the following viewpoint, the committee contends that software filters, which are designed to block offensive or pornographic sites on the Internet, are unconstitutional because they discriminate against speech that is protected by the First Amendment. It is the responsibility of parents—not libraries—to restrict children’s access to inappropriate materials, the committee maintains.

As you read, consider the following questions:

1. What was the U.S. Supreme Court’s fundamental holding in its decision released June 26, 1997, according to the ALA?
2. What examples does the ALA give of how...