David Burt

In the following viewpoint, David Burt responds to the American Library Association’s (ALA) opposition to the use of Internet filtering/blocking software in libraries. He argues that such software targets only a small number of websites, most of which are pornographic and therefore inappropriate for library patrons. In addition, he asserts that filtering pornographic sites is consistent with the policies of libraries across the country to omit pornographic magazines and videos from their collections. Libraries must take responsibility for their part in raising children, he contends, and that means finding ways to keep them from accessing offensive materials. Burt is president and founder of Filtering Facts, a nonprofit organization that promotes the use of filtering software in libraries.

As you read, consider the following questions:

1. What does the author mean by “collateral...