Jane Rustin, the Allegany County Library System (MD) library director since 1994, has submitted her resignation to protest a decision by the library board to install filtering software at all terminals in the children's area systemwide. Her own personal principles and a core belief in the constitutional guarantee of free speech preclude her from remaining in the top post.

Many in New Hampshire worked with Jane Rustin, formerly Jane Perlungher, when she was the library director for many years at the Keene Public Library. Member libraries of the Nubanusit Library Cooperative and librarians throughout New Hampshire, know Jane as a strong advocate for the individual's right to information, and a steadfast opponent to any form of censorship.

As reported in the November 23rd issue of Library Hotline and the December issue of American Libraries, Rustin stated that she would not "create a campaign out of her decision." With the exception of this one situation she stated her relationship with the library board had always been good. For those colleagues who decide to filter, she would not lose respect, but compromise was out of the question for her. There are two major projects to complete in the next three months before stepping down from the directorship. Jane wants to see the opening of a new branch and the installation of an automation system.