Since the Children’s Internet Protection Act, otherwise known by the acronym CIPA, of December 2002, government has been setting regulations on the type of access to different types of internet websites and programs libraries and schools have. This meant any library receiving government money and subsidies and using it for their technology costs had to install software that would block websites deemed obscene, containing pornography, and other such websites that contained not suitable for children to view.

There are certain requirements public libraries need to pass in order to get funding from a program called ‘E-rate’ - a program ran in order to make technology more available and affordable for libraries and public schools. After the CIPA rule was put in place by the Federal government, any library or place using government spending must follow the strict blocking rules put in run by CIPA to continue to get funding from ‘E-rate.’ If these rules are not followed, they will lose their funding.

Libraries facing CIPA must implement policies that limit access to minors and inappropriate content, ensure safety of minors using email, chat rooms, chat software and other means of direct internet communication, hacking of systems and databases, and disclosure of minors personal identities.

Libraries have the option to install internet filtering software, which can give a library’s technical administrator complete control of what happens on a libraries internet connection. Many internet filtering programs are available and approved by CIPA standards after installation, however, these programs allow for much more control than what is just given.
Specific websites or websites containing special content or keywords can be blocked Music files and entertainment applications can also be stopped from being downloaded whilst incoming and outgoing cookies are filtered. Much of these programs allow you to install keyloggers, a program that will track every key pressed. Chat logs can be saved and stored, then analyzed at another time. Using such software enables a library to keep a safe environment for children, as well as continue to receive federal financing to buy more computers and upgrade older systems and software.