Internet use at public libraries is increasing as libraries make more computers available.

With Internet use comes concerns about privacy and appropriate viewing. Internet-accessible computers are available to every patron and what may be appropriate for some people, may not be for others.

A federal district court rejected the "Children's Internet Protection Act" in May, which would have required libraries to install Web filter programs on computers. The courts said the filters were faulty, either blocking sites that were not inappropriate or not blocking sites that were.

Libraries in the area have decided not to use filters, partly because they think they are faulty and partly because they believe what their patrons use the Internet for is private.

The Austin Public Library tested some filters on their Internet computers, but found they did not block all inappropriate Web sites, said Christine McArdle-Rojo, library director.

"In all honesty, I'm not that impressed with them," McArdle-Rojo said.

Instead the library has a policy in place that allows the library to prohibit a person's access if they violate that policy.

Parents can put restrictions on their child's card and the library clears the history of Web pages after each day. The computers screens face the worker at the desk so the worker can see what is being looked at, she said.

The library has had to revoke privileges of only two people since the policy was enacted in 1999.

"We haven't had any problems since then," McArdle-Rojo said.

Because the library is up front with its policies, people are understanding of them, McArdle-Rojo said. Brochures with the policy are available in the computer lab.

"We've been pretty fortunate," she said.

Grand Meadow's public library has a similar Internet use policy. Parents have to give their children permission to use the Internet, said Brenda Johnson, head librarian. The four Internet-accessible computers are near the front desk.

The librarians do not closely supervise what people view because of the patron's privacy, Johnson said.

The library has not had any problems with patrons misusing the Internet, she said.

Nissen Public Library in St. Ansgar, Iowa, leaves supervision to children's parents, said Marsha Kuntz, Nissen's director. They require parent's permission for children under 18 to use the Internet.

"We're not their parents and we don't regulate it," Kuntz said.

Patrons are not allowed to use the library for illegal purposes, such as viewing child pornography or showing pornography to children.

"We haven't had any problems," Kuntz said.

Brownsdale Public Library puts more restrictions on Internet use, but does not use filters. Patrons are not allowed to use chat rooms, instant messaging or look up inappropriate sites, said Melany Bogt, head librarian.

If a child is caught violating the policy, they have four chances until that are prohibited from using the Internet. After two offenses, the child is not allowed to use the Internet for a month. On the third offense, the library has a discussion with the child's parents.

Adults also have four chances before they are not allowed to use the Internet.

In the three years Bogt has worked at the library, the most a child has been restricted from the Internet is one month. No adults have violated the policy, she said.

Cari Quam can be reached at 434-2235 or by e-mail at cari.quam@austindailyherald.com