From: Gounaud <FFL@compuserve.com>
To: filt4lib@listserv.ci.escondido.ca.us
Date: Thu, 23 Oct 97 15:42:29 +0000

* List: filt4lib@listserv.ci.escondido.ca.us

To:  FFL Inquirers and/or Supporters
Re:  X-Stop Filtering Product for Library Computers

It is with regret that FFL is announcing we can no longer endorse or
recommend the X-Stop product produced by Log On Data.  When we first
endorsed this site-blocking system as being the best of the new
technological products, it had just been tested and recommended by two
conservative family policy agencies FFL has worked with extensively: 
American Family Association and Enough Is Enough.  Their initially positive
experience and a presentation the Log On Data CEO, Michael Bradshaw, did
for me and others was impressive and convincing.  As a somewhat
"cyber-challenged" person I felt confident adding our FFL endorsement to
the others.  

Subsequent disappointing events involving X-Stop technology and
unprofessional behavior involving their public relations has eroded that
confidence so seriously, we now are withdrawing our support in hopes of
three positive outcomes:

1.  To avoid any further distraction from the positive performance and
benefits of other products  well produced from the technological community.
 

        It is not fair for the negative behavior of one corporation to
adversely affect the general good faith effort and effectiveness of other
technological products and  corporations.

2.  To restore the credibility of FFL's recommendations to the people and
groups it advises in this important area of concern.

        As the President of FFL I pledge, in recognition of my own
technological shortcomings, to yield further judgments about Internet
blocking programs to those who are technologically equipped to actually
test the products properly.  I will refer all future questionners to David
Burt and his Filtering Facts data.

3.  To encourage the technological community to abide by the highest
possible standards in striving to meet the needs of the professional
library community in this area of concern.

        Once again, the Filtering Facts guidelines for their own
endorsement is one in which FFL will put its trust.  If Filtering Facts'
evaluation of X-Stop changes in the future to a more positive situation, we
will reconsider our position.     

We recommend other concerned citizen and family groups previously depending
on X-Stop for solutions to their community library Internet problems should
reconsider their trust in this apparently troubled corporation and look
instead at the guidelines and recommendations proposed by Filtering Facts
which has the benefit of first hand technological experience and access to
a much broader collection of data than FFL.

We continue to believe in the importance and potential of the technological
role in helping community libraries protect their patrons and employees
from sexually hostile environments and their children from harmful
materials.  We apologize for any hindrance our premature recommendations
have had on the effective search for solutions.  Thank you for your
understanding.  

Let us all continue our cooperative effort to make the most of the positive
benefits of cyberspace for our communities.

Karen Jo Gounaud, President
Family Friendly Libraries
ffl@compuserve.com