BURBANK'S LIBRARIES ARE GOING ONLINE THREE BRANCHES PLUG IN TODAY.

Byline: Sylvia L. Oliande Staff Writer

BURBANK - Burbank libraries are expected to take a step forward today, as patrons will be able to get online for the first time in each of the city's three branches.

In anticipation of the launch, the City Council was scheduled Tuesday night to approve a new access policy designed to make people - especially parents of younger users - aware of the dark side of the World Wide Web.

``The Internet has become perhaps one of the most important information resources to libraries today,'' said John Fuchs, library services director. ``The currency of the information, the immediacy of it, is invaluable. It also compliments very well the printed resources. So it's a critical tool to get information to our public and for them to be able to access it directly.''

The city is spending up to $75,000 to connect its three branch libraries, including hardware, software and contracting with Pacific Bell to install a T-1 line that provides a high-speed and constant link to the Internet.

Gloria O'Donohoe, 68, said she has had Internet access at home for several years now but is excited to try the new connection to log onto sites that load slowly on her old Macintosh computer.

O'Donohoe, who is a member of the library board of trustees, said everyone should have access to the Internet regardless of whether or not they can afford to buy and maintain a computer.

``In order to allow everyone to be on an equal playing ground with business and education and information, we need to offer the Internet free, without any obligation, to everyone,'' she said.

Fuchs said patrons using the general computers will have access to any Internet function, including the World Wide Web, e-mail and news groups.

But the computers in the children's area will have a filter in place to limit what pages can be called up from the Web.

Although the city found that libraries in Los Angeles County do not filter computers and have had very few problems with inappropriate use, Burbank has taken a more conservative approach and decided to filter in the children's section only.

``We believe the steps we've taken with our procedures, signing in and staff monitoring, will keep problems to a minimum as it has been in other libraries,'' Fuchs said.

Nancy Mahr, public information officer for the Los Angeles County libraries, said the county will soon be filtering the children's computers. The Board of Supervisors authorized the change earlier this year, and staff has been working to find the right filter system.

``The board wanted to give an opportunity to the community so parents could make the choice of filtered or nonfiltered computer use,'' Mahr said.

In Burbank, computer time each day will be limited to one hour per person, with a one-hour extension available when demand is low. Users must sign an Internet use policy that was to be approved by the council, and minors must have parent permission to register.

There will be 16 terminals on the main floor and five in the children's section of the Central Library. Buena Vista library will have three in the general area and two in the children's section. And Northwest library will have a total of four computers, available to all ages. That library does not have a children's area.

Although the connection is expected to be up and running today, Fuchs said patrons are encouraged to call the reference desk to verify, at [phone].