Fort Walton Beach Resolution — 06-06-Library Internet Filtering — reading text

RESOLUTION 06-6 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA OPPOSING THE GOVERNMENT MANDATED INTERNET FILTERING; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. WHEREAS, the City of Fort Walton Beach City Council believes that the protection of our children while visiting and using our libraries is of the highest priority; and WHEREAS, public librarians of the City of Fort Walton Beach work diligently with and within the community to provide a safe, inviting and educational place for area children; and WHEREAS, the City of Fort Walton Beach strongly believes in the First Amendment allowing for the ftee and open access to information that people of all ages need and want regardless of the format of that information; and WHEREAS, many of our City residents rely solely on library-provided public access cannot afford computers to meet their information needs, including Internet access, because they computers or the training necessary to operate them successfully; and WHEREAS, the Fort Walton Beach City Library depends on State Aid to Libraries funding through the Okaloosa County Public Library Cooperative; and WHEREAS, public libraries consistently partner with parents and work unceasingly toward them how helping adults and children in their communities become information literate by teaching to access, evaluate, and use information; and WHEREAS, the City of Fort Walton Beach is dedicated to educating children to use the Internet wisely and responsibly in the belief that knowledge provides the best protection now and in the future; and WHEREAS, public libraries implement specific Internet use policies based on the needs of their communities; and WHEREAS, the City of Fort Walton Beach through experience knows there is currently no content while allowing access to all proven technology that can successfully block out all illegal constitutionally protected material; and WHEREAS, state mandated filtering statutes for local public libraries constitute unfunded mandates and would do significant harm to Public Libraries if implemented by further eroding already fiscally impactedbudgets and curtailing valuable programs, services and purchase educational materials; and WHEREAS, Internet use policies in the Fort Walton Beach Library have heretofore been created and decided upon at the local level. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA, THAT: SECTION I: the City of Fort Walton Beach will continue to work with the Okaloosa County Public Library Cooperative to ensure that all area children are protected in member Libraries. SECTION II: the City of Fort Walton Beach will diligently work to overturn any law that usurps or undermines local control of library policy and procedure. SECTION III: the City of Fort Walton Beach will support the Florida Library Association' s work with the Federal Communications Commission, the Institute of Museum and Library Services, and the U. s. Departmentof Education, to ensure that the values of fair and open access for all are considered. SECTION IV: the City of Fort Walton Beach will continue to support and encourage all six member libraries as they educate children and adults in the safe and effective use of the Internet. SECTION V: the City of Fort Walton Beach will support efforts directed against this type of Bill to ensure that the people of Fort Walton Beach have unfettered access to all forms of information resources. SECTION VI: the City of Fort Walton Beach will submit this resolution to Florida Governor Jeb Bush and members of the Florida Legislature. SECTION VII: This Resolution shall take effect immediately upon approval by the City Council and signature of the Mayor. ADOPTED: ~ A~/ / 1 c2a;t MAYOR: U~ Mike Anderson A~ c:~ Heien Spencer, City - lerk lciency:  i W L- \\ \ City of Fort Walton Beach V America' s Most Beautiful Beaches 107 Miracle Strip Parkway, SW * P. O. Box 4009 * Fort Walton Beach, FL 32549 850) 833- 9500 * Fax ( 850) 833- 9640 TDD ( 850) 833- 9925 Mike Anderson Mayor Tel 850- 833- 9510 E- mail fwbmayor@fwb. org April 14, 2006 Office of the Governor The Capitol Tallahassee, FL 32399- 0001 Governor Bush: At its regularly scheduled Council meeting of April 11, 2006, the Fort Walton Beach City Council adopted Res. 06- 6 opposing government mandated Internet filtering. Your support of this resolution is appreciated. Sincerely, k 4- t; Mike Anderson Mayor lve  i A';' L- \\ , City of Fort Walton Beach f.' I:\ V America' s Most Beautiful Beaches IW ,: I'\ i~' 107 Miracle Strip Parkway, SW * P. O. Box 4009 * Fort Walton Beach, FL 32549 C--:-- : 850) 833- 9500 * Fax ( 850) 833- 9640 TDD ( 850) 833- 9925 Mike Anderson Mayor Tel 850- 833- 9510 E- mail fwbmayor@fwb. org April 14, 2006 Senate President Tom Lee The Capitol Suite 409 404 South Monroe Street Tallahassee, FL 32399- 0001 Dear Senator Lee: At its regularly scheduled Council meeting of April 11, 2006, the Fort Walton Beach City Council adopted Res. 06- 6 opposing government mandated Internet filtering. Your support of this resolution is appreciated. Sincerely, ikA- Mike AIiderson Mayor lye  IG i I~' \\' City of Fort Walton Beach I~ ':;" r:::,;;. \~ it G ~ ' f~\ C;', '.-{,\ America' s Most Beautiful Beaches F' r .. V / 7" - 107 Miracle Strip Parkway, SW * P. O. Box 4009 * Fort Walton Beach, FL 32549 850) 833- 9500 * Fax ( 850) 833- 9640 TDD ( 850) 833- 9925 Mike Anderson Mayor Tel 850- 833- 9510 E- mail fwbmayor@fwb. org April 14, 2006 Senator Charlie Clary 1241 Airport Road Suite A Destin, FL 32541 Dear Senator Clary: At its regularly scheduled Council meeting of April 11 , 2006, the Fort Walton Beach City Council adopted Res. 06- 6 opposing government mandated Internet filtering. Your support of this resolution is appreciated. Sincerely, kk Mike Anderson Mayor lve  f L- \\ \ City