In the wake of persistent criticism that the library distributes pornography, the Fort Vancouver Library board decided Monday to change its Internet policy and impose the most restrictive rules of any local library.

The library board voted 4-3 on Monday to filter all Internet access, to make viewing pornography against the library's policy, and to have library staff monitor Internet use. The policy may take a month or so before it can be implemented, Executive Director Bruce Ziegman said at the Monday night meeting.

Board member Jack Burkman said he came to his decision in part after hearing from folks who felt uncomfortable in the library. "I believe it's critical the library be friendly to families," he said. Some are concerned that library users will access sexually explicit material online, and that children could see it. Others object to pornography itself, and that anyone could use the library to get it...

LifePac Commentary: The library's previous policy allowed only those 17 and older to access the Internet without a filter, which meets the standards of the federal Children Internet Protection Act.

The old Fort Vancouver filter policy is the same as the Camas Public Library's filter policy. Libraries at colleges and universities in Clark County aren't filtered.