Call Judiciary I, Civil Law Committee Members Now!
Please contact the following members of the Illinois House of Representatives Judiciary I, Civil Law Committee and urge them to vote against Mandatory Internet Filters on Public Library Computers House Bill (HB) 1727.

HB 1727 was introduced on Thursday, 22 February 2007 by Representative Kevin Joyce, D-35, Worth (Springfield Office: 269-S Stratton Office Building, Springfield, IL 62706; [217] 782-8200; [217] 782-0945 FAX. District Office: 6965 W. 111th St., Worth, IL 60482; [708] 448-3518; [708] 448-3535 FAX).

Representative Joyce introduced the last mandatory Internet filter legislation in 2005 that would have mandated Internet filters on all government funded library computers. This more tailored proposal, HB 1727, could be part of his effort to divide and conquer the library community by targeting just public and school libraries. Another bill could be targeted at the academic community at a later date. Plus, the school library community already has another bill on this same topic (House Bill 1226). The bill could be heard by the committee as early as Wednesday, 7 March 2007. For more information on the bill, please go to the ILA Web site: http://www.ila.org/advocacy/index.htm

Chairperson: John A. Fritchey, D-11th District
Springfield Office:
200-7S Stratton Office Building
Springfield, IL 62706
(217) 782-2458
(217) 557-7214 FAX
District Office:
2539 North Southport Ave.
Chicago, IL 60614
(773) 871-4000
(773) 871-4012 FAX
Cook County

Vice-Chairperson: John E. Bradley, D-117th District
Springfield Office:
265-S Stratton Office Building
Springfield, IL 62706
(217) 782-1051
(217) 782-0882 FAX
District Office:
501 W. DeYoung, Suite 5
Marion, IL 62959
(618) 997-9697
(618) 997-9807 FAX
Williamson County

Republican Spokesperson: Chapin Rose R-110th District
Springfield Office:
240 W. Stratton Office Building
Springfield, IL 62706
(217) 558-1006
District Office:
1113 Lincoln Ave.
Charleston, IL 61920
(217) 348-7673
(217) 348-7677 FAX
Champaign County

Member: James D. Brosnahan, D-36th District
Springfield Office:
277-S Stratton Office Building
Springfield, IL 62706
(217) 782-0515
(217) 789-4899 FAX
District Office:
5311 W. 95th St.
Oak Lawn, IL 60453
(708) 499-2810
(708) 499-3991 FAX
Cook County

Member: Franco Coladipietro, R-45th District
Springfield Office:
222-N Stratton Office Bldg
Springfield, IL 62706
(217) 782-8158
District Office:
126 W. Lake Street
Bloomingdale, IL 60108
(630) 582-0045
DuPage County

Member: Joe Dunn, R-96th District
Springfield Office:
209-N Stratton Office Building
Springfield, IL 62706
(217) 782-6507
(217) 782-5257 FAX
District Office:
552 S. Washington #119
Naperville, IL 60540
(630) 355-4113
(630) 355-2847 FAX
DuPage County

Member: Careen M Gordon, D-75th District
Springfield Office:
276-S Stratton Office Building
Springfield, IL 62706
(217) 782-5997
(217) 782-7631 FAX
District Office:
760 East Division
Coal City, IL 60450
(815) 634-3096
(815) 634-3137 FAX
Grundy County

Member: Julie Hamos, D-18th District
Springfield Office:
256-W Stratton Office Building
Springfield, IL 62706
(217) 782-8052
(217) 557-7204 FAX
District Office:
820 Davis St.
Suite 103
Evanston, IL 60201
(847) 424-9898
(847) 424-9828 FAX
Cook County

Member: Jay C. Hoffman, D-112th District
Springfield Office:
263-S Stratton Office Building
Springfield, IL 62706
(217) 782-8018
(217) 557-2763 FAX
District Office:
126 Vandalia
Suite 1
Collinsville, IL 62234
(618) 345-2176
(618) 345-3338 FAX
Madison County

Member: Lou Lang, D-16th District
Springfield Office:
109 Capitol Building
Springfield, IL 62706
(217) 782-1252
(217) 782-9903 FAX
District Office:
4528 W. Oakton St.
Skokie, IL 60076
(847) 673-1131
(847) 982-0393 FAX
Cook County

Member: Sidney H. Mathias, R-53rd District
Springfield Office:
200-1N Stratton Office Building
Springfield, IL 62706
(217) 782-1664
(217) 782-1275 FAX
District Office:
4256 N. Arlington Hts. Rd.
Suite 104
Arlington Heights, IL 60004
(847) 222-0061
(847) 222-0062 FAX
Lake County

Member: Elaine Nekritz, D-57th District
Springfield Office:
248-W Stratton Office Building
Springfield, IL 62706
(217) 558-1004
(217) 557-7204 FAX
District Office:
24 S. Des Plaines River Road
Suite 200
Des Plaines, IL 60016
(847) 257-0450
(847) 257-0452 FAX
Cook County

Member: JoAnn D. Osmond, R-61st District
Springfield Office:
201-N Stratton Office Building
Springfield, IL 62706
(217) 782-8151
(217) 557-7207 FAX
District Office:
976 Hillside Ave.
Antioch, IL 60002
(847) 838-6200
(847) 838-2060 FAX
Lake County

Member: Ronald A. Wait, R-69th District
Springfield Office:
219-N Stratton Office Building
Springfield, IL 62706
(217) 782-0548
(217) 782-5257 FAX
District Office:
411 S. State St.
Belvidere, IL 61008
(815) 547-7771
(815) 547-7767 FAX
Boone County

Talking Points:
The Illinois Library Association ("ILA") opposes House Bill 1727 which would require installation of mandatory Internet filters on all public library computers. This comprehensive ban on free access to the Internet would apply to even computers used exclusively by adults. ILA supports local control. Local officials --library trustees, librarians, and other professional library staff - are the most qualified to decide how Internet access should be provided to their patrons. House Bill 1727 overrules all local decisions and imposes a "one size fits all" approach. In contrast, ILA supports House Bill (HB) 660 and Senate Bill (SB) 1472, which mandates schools to teach Internet safety to students.

ILA opposes mandatory filters because:

Filters Hurt Libraries!
This legislation is an unfunded mandate that overrides local control. This legislation even places libraries at risk for civil suits by "any citizen," fines, and perjury prosecutions. Even if the library prevails in all these suits, the library would incur attorneys' fees and costs to defend claims filed under the legislation.

Filters Don't Work!
Study after study has demonstrated that filters consistently block important information on science, health, political, and social issues and regularly allow objectionable material to get through. This creates new liability for libraries.

Filters are Expensive!
Paying for filters diverts scarce resources from limited technology budgets. Money that could go to buying more computers, and paying for more reliable and faster Internet access. Typical network installation is $10,000, plus about $3,000 per year. This is enough to buy twenty computers and pay for Internet access.

Filters are Inflexible!
Filters don't know if the person using the computer is 5, 21, or 65. This "one size fits all" approach treats adults, even senior citizens, like elementary school children. The user doesn't even know what they are being prevented from accessing. We can't expect patrons to ask to unblock computers when they don't know what that particular filter has blocked.

Filters are Biased!
Private companies and groups with commercial, political, or religious agendas design filters to block what THEY find objectionable, including political candidates, social causes, basic health information, and even information on their own product's faults.

Filters Hurt the Poor!
Less wealthy communities are the most in need of technology because more of their patrons lack these resources at home. This legislation forces less affluent areas to choose between filling this need or spending money just to block access.