Does your library ban Green Left online?

When you get a chance, please check your local library computers to see if the Green Left Weekly website has been blocked.

For over one month, Green Left online and several other left wing sites were blocked at all Bayswater City Council libraries.

When we were notified of this, we took it up with the library manager who immediately unblocked the sites in question. It seemed to take a little longer at Maylands library (possibly because they were moving premises).

The blocking occurred because of a piece of internet filtering software called WebMarshal that picked up on some key words on the Green Left site. What were these key words and why were legitimate left wing sites affected? We'd love to know.

Although the matter was quickly resolved when we took it up with the manager, we're concerned that it happened in the first place. We'd also like to you check your local library to see how widespread the problem is.

The Perth Voice were similarly concerned and ran the story on the front page of their July 23 issue. For the time being it still pops up on their front page when you visit the Voice online: http://perthvoice.com/

Make sure you check www.greenleft.org.au and www.socialist-alliance.org and any other left wings sites you love to visit. If you find any sites that are blocked, let the library manager know straight away and also ensure you let us know as well: Ph 9218 9608 or 0413 976 638.