The Ottawa Public Library Board Monday night rejected a proposal to expand Internet filters to all of its computers available to the public.

Those in favour of the idea argued that filtering Internet access on all computers would better protect children from seeing pornographic Web sites.

But the majority of board members disagreed.

The motion proposed putting on library-wide filters that adults could turn off after entering their library-card number.

Those in favour of the motion argued it would be a good compromise. They said it would go further to protect children without limiting adult Internet access.

But, in a 7-to-4 vote, the board defeated the motion and quickly moved on to endorse the current year-old policy.

The board's chair, Rick Chiarelli, was disappointed with the outcome.

"Libraries belong to the public," he said. "They don't belong to the members sitting around the table. If the public tells us they want a certain kind of library, I think it's our responsibility to try to provide that."

But the majority of board members argued that the current policy provides sufficient protection.

They said system-wide filters give parents a false sense of security, because filters aren't perfect. Filters can cut out legitimate Web sites, and still let in some pornographic ones.

Board trustee Ian Hunter says that would mean little protection at the cost of hindering activities such as teenagers doing research for school.

"I'm glad that the Ottawa Public Library has not got into the business of censoring Web sites that are legal and appropriate," Hunter said, "and I think we've taken a very sensible approach tonight.

Board members do agree that the library has to move forward, and past the pornography debate, at least until a year from now, when its Internet-access policy will be up for its annual review again.