Library officials in Chapel Hill are looking to upgrade, or change the internet policy for library computers, to block access to visual depictions of child pornography.

Library computer users currently have unfiltered access to the internet, and mayor Pam Hemminger said that can pose problems for children and families who also use the library’s resources.

“We have some filters that we can put on there, we have not chosen to do that in the past,” she said. “Mostly because people didn’t have as much access to computers on their own, but now people do, there’s better access, but you really shouldn’t be doing these kinds of things in the public setting.”

The possibility of filtering the internet was supposed to be discussed at the council meeting Monday, but it was canceled due to inclement weather.

Hemminger said if the decision to purchase filtration software passes, the library will then be eligible to apply for federal funding for technology initiatives.

“It will be a change for us, if it’s passed, as we work forward,” she said. “It also opens up access to other grant fundings for other internet connections that we don’t currently have right now. So there might be better access to things that you really do want and should be researching for the public setting.”

Chapel Hill’s library is currently one of three in the state that provide free, open internet access. Library and town officials last reviewed the policy in 2004.

Hemminger said the internet has changed since then, and it’s important to protect users like children from seeing anything obscene.

“You’re dealing with children and families and there’s a lot of things out there,” she said.

The next council meeting is on January 18 at 7:00. The library’s internet policy is one of the issues set to be discussed.

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