Case Study: Censorship in Loudoun’s Public Libraries
Case Study: Internet Filtering in Loudoun’s Public Libraries
Internet Filters in Loudoun Public Schools

Intellectual freedom is the ability to speak, read or write according to one’s conscience, with only a few court-determined limitations. However, a number of religious right organizations want to impose more limitations in order to prevent or control access to material they deem inappropriate. In an organized attempt to make their beliefs public policy, these groups hope to remove or control, in public libraries and schools, materials that are not in line with what they call “traditional” values.

In the 1990’s, Loudoun County residents experienced censorship firsthand. First, in 1995, the Loudoun Library Board of Trustees voted to remove a number of anti-censorship statements from library policy, the first step toward controlling access to materials they felt were unsuitable.

Then, in 1997, the Loudoun County Library Board of Trustees implemented an overly restrictive Internet Use Policy that mandated permanent filters without a disabling option for adults. Mainstream repeatedly voiced concerns about the policy’s constitutionality, eventually suing the library board (and winning) in order to change the policy.