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Offers library news for March 2002. Sentencing of a former librarian at the University of Alabama/Tuscaloosa to pay replacement costs for the destruction of books; Literacy program of the Chicago Public Library in Illinois; Complaint of black staffers at the District of Columbia Public Library about the decreased prominence of Black History Month; Charges against an 84-year-old man for stealing materials from libraries in California; Delinquent patrons at North Babylon Public Library in New York taken to court.

Describes how the Bloomington Public Library use automation to improve contact with its patrons in Illinois. Production of a mailing label program; Development of programs for senior citizens; Development of letter for adult patrons.

Presents the results of a survey conducted by the Library Research Center of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign about access control of the Internet in public libraries. Prevalence of Internet-management strategies in libraries, including written policies, parental permission for children's use of the Internet, and filtering tools; Questions raised by the survey.

The article focuses on the opportunities of libraries to educate its users in environmental literacy as part of information literacy across the U.S. It states that libraries in Illinois have the chance to educate the community though the implementation of green practices within their library's architecture. It adds that the Green Roof Environmental Evaluation Network of Southern Illinois University offers information on green roofs, its environmental value and benefits to community.

Interviews several librarians in Illinois. Creation of higher patron expectations through technology; Need for librarians to become more aware of the emerging technology; Challenges faced by librarians.

The article reports on a political debate between the Illinois Family Institute, which is pushing for a law to require filtering software on all public library computers in the state of Illinois, and the Illinois Library Association, which opposes the law. Eight libraries are reported to have shut off their internet services entirely in protest against the proposed law, which they believe is unnecessary and unduly burdensome.

Reports that computers in the Des Plaines Public Library in Illinois are being equipped with filtering software to block pornography. Charge of indecent exposure against a man after an employee at the library saw him masturbating while using a library computer to view pornography; Concern that people were viewing sexually explicit materials in places where children were likely to pass by.

Reports that one month after the Oak Lawn Public Library, Illinois, board of trustees voted to allow parents to restrict their children from access to adult materials, a second vote resulted in a setback for the policy. Reaction of librarians to the vote to rescind; Community support for the library; Issues of access restriction.

Discusses how restraints on children's library access have created controversy in Illinois and Massachusetts. Proposal by the Oak Lawn, Illinois, Public Library Board to restrict the access of children ages 13 and under from adult library material; Decision to rescind the proposal; Protest in Andover, Massachusetts by youngsters demanding freedom to use the entire library, not just the children's room.

Reports on the free wireless Internet access launched by Chicago Public Library in Chicago, Illinois on December 6, 2004. Advantages of wireless Internet access according to Chicago Public Library Commissioner Mark Dempsey; Estimated costs for installation and maintenance; Library systems in the U.S. that also offer wireless Internet access.

Focuses on expansion of an independent study program by a branch of the Great River, Illinois, Library System. Inclusion of courses scheduled on a circuit of member libraries; Chance for system patrons to attend free educational programs.

Presents statistics regarding library related issues. Percentage of people who hold library cards for the Denver Public Library; Final registration numbers for the 1989 American Library Association Midwinter Meeting in Washington; Amount of books borrowed by University of Illinois and Boston University; Other statistics.