In the current biennium budget, the State Legislature allocated funds to OPLIN for assisting public libraries with the purchase of Internet content filters. OPLIN will make up to $85,725 available to libraries for this program in FY 2009.

Eligibility: Any Ohio public library system that wishes to install or maintain filters to screen out obscene and illegal Internet materials on any of its public access computers is encouraged to apply for funds. Filters used primarily to block viruses and malware are not eligible for funding.

Assistance Program: OPLIN will provide assistance to a library system up to $10,000 of the cost of implementing Internet content filtering technology. The money may be used for software, hardware, or support fees directly related to the implementation of content filtering. Note: this is not a reimbursement program -- these funds cannot be used to reimburse libraries for monies already spent on filters

Application Requirements: A library interested in obtaining assistance to implement or maintain a content filtering solution must provide the following information:

1. Library name, address, telephone number, and fax number
2. Director’s name, telephone number, and e-mail address
3. Grant contact’s name, telephone number, and e-mail address
4. Name and cost of filtering software, hardware, and/or support (total budget not to exceed $10,000)
5. Description of each software, hardware, and/or support component of the filtering solution
6. Vendor price quotes in electronic format for uploading
7. A list of library buildings in which filtering will be implemented; also the number of workstations which will be filtered

To apply for funds, go to http://oplin.org/grantapplication/.

Applications must be completed by November 30, 2008.

Detailed information on filtering options is available from the vendors (See a list here). If you know of a filtering vendor that is not represented on the list, please ask them to contact OPLIN Support at support@oplin.org.

Additional information about CIPA and filtering is available from OLC or ALA.

Program Guidelines:

In the event that eligible requests exceed the amount of available money, assistance will be awarded following these priorities:

1. New filtering measures (first funding priority)
2. Upgrades or expansion of existing filters
3. Maintenance or renewal of existing filters

Further determination will be based on financial need. Need is defined by the "Total Overall Revenue" in the most recent Ohio Public Library Statistics published by the State Library of Ohio, and assistance will be awarded beginning with the library with the lowest total overall revenue.

Each library receiving assistance will sign a contract agreeing to use the funds as described in their request. Contracts will commence on January 1, 2009; libraries may not purchase filters until these contracts are in effect.

Filtering solutions funded by this program should be installed and operational by June 30, 2009; all grant funds received must definitely be encumbered to vendors by that date.

Libraries will be expected to maintain the proposed filtering solution for at least one year. If a library removes the filtering solution, the library will notify OPLIN of the date the filter was removed and the reasons for its removal.

Each library receiving assistance will submit two reports to the State Library. The first, to be submitted no later than July 15, 2009, will be a financial report documenting expenditure of the grant funds. The second, to be submitted after the filtering solution is implemented but no later than July 15, 2010, will be a narrative description of the installation or implementation of the filtering solution. Forms will be provided for submitting these reports.