Topeka ? Lawrence library director Bruce Flanders says he wants to and does shield minors from Internet pornography on the library’s computers.

He just doesn’t like to be told to do it by the Kansas Legislature.

“It’s a one-size-fits-all attempt to legislate at the state level,” Flanders said after the House approved a bill, 71-52, that would require public libraries to install filtering software on computers that minors use.

The proposed “Children’s Internet Protection Act” now goes to the Senate for consideration.

Flanders said the Lawrence library already used a filtering program that was distributed by the state library system for free.

“It’s a proxy server-based system that blocks access to tens of thousands of known Web sites with pornography,” Flanders said. “It seems to do a pretty good job. That black list is updated periodically.”

But Flanders said the Legislature should allow local communities to decide how best to handle the problem.

“I believe the local library staff and boards can make the right choices for their individual situations,” he said.

Flanders’ remarks were echoed by opponents of the bill, which included library associations.

AP story: House advances bill requiring porn filters at public libraries AP story: House vote on library filters House wants libraries to filter Internet porn (3-11-04) Librarians oppose Internet filter plan (3-12-03)

The measure would apply to city, county or township libraries but not to those in schools or universities. Minors would be allowed to use nonfiltered computers if they had an OK from their parents.

The bill’s supporters said it was needed to protect children.

Included in the measure is a prohibition on libraries from checking out R-rated videos or DVDs to anyone under 18, unless a parent or guardian were present.

Several legislators said they had heard of minors checking out R-rated videos from local libraries and watching them when parents were not home.

Critics noted that 17-year-olds could see R-rated movies in theaters unaccompanied by an adult.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.