SOMERSWORTH, N.H. (AP) – Hoping to discourage children from cruising the seedy side of the Web, the public library now requires anyone under 18 to get a parent’s written permission before logging on.

Library director Debora Longo says the policy has been around since computers with Web access were introduced six years ago, but now it is being enforced. The library computers do not have filtering software.

She says students get frustrated that they need to get permission first, but says it’s for their own protection.