Councilman says library patrons who view porn should be exposed

A list of people who have been caught looking at pornography on library computers should be made public, he says. "I can’t imagine your average taxpayer thinking it’s OK to satisfy the appetites of some of these folks by using public dollars." Quincy, Mass. Patriot-Ledger)

Comments

[KDP]

Yeah, expose them all! Just make them take off all their clothes and run through the stacks.

The quote about satisfying appetites somehow makes me think of any politician you care to name.

[Dances With Books]

Please, don't make them run through the stacks. We already have enough problems when it comes to catching kids making out in the stacks, and people doing other inappropriate things or leaving things behind in the stacks (really, don't ask. You are better off not knowing).

Personally, I do not care if anyone likes viewing porn or not (heck, I happen to like some porn). But they should have the common sense and decency not to watch it in a public computer in a library in an open space. This very issue is one that often get libraries and librarians in hot water because since we tend to be very gung ho about defending things like access to information and freedom to view what you want, we often come across as defending porn in the library, which is far from the truth. Here in Backwater Rural Branch U, we catch you doing it, campus police is called, and you are kicked out. No ands, ifs, or buts. Personally, I have always advocated for having a "rogues gallery" in the library so we can point out miscreants right away, but alas, we cannot humiliate people nor violate their privacy (yes, I have been told this by the higher ups).

You want to get books and/or information/sites on bombs, the Kama Sutra, sexual health, the Middle East, communism (just picking topics that tend to rile some people), I will be happy to help out. But I am not supporting your porn habit in the library. I will give you directions to the nearest porn shop though (which here in Backwater Rural County is actually heading north and east from campus). Sorry I made this long just to say that yes, like most taxpayers, most librarians ARE NOT ok with people viewing porn on our computers.

[Drake Timbershaft]

Ten buck says some of the first people caught doing so are the councilmen.

[Joe (the first one)]

They should be careful -- most states have laws that make it so that libraries and book seller's patron records are confidential. Most require a court order to release the records (a subpoena is no enough.)

They also have to be careful about how they determined the users were looking at porn -- if it was someone who noticed & reported it, that's an event that's not confidential. If someone went through the web history on the computer, that could be a violation of the Electronic Communications Privacy Act (ECPA).

[Phranqlin]

The town has an ordnance that bans "Level 3 sex offenders" from public libraries and parks. How are they going to enforce this -- make them all wear a scarlet "A" on their chests?

Anyhow, I had the same impression as KDP -- that library patrons who get busted watching pr0n would be forced to expose themselves in public.

[vksjk]

Let's ban libraries that won't let you access porn! Darn!

[Psyche]

I don't know what libraries this guy in the article is talking about, but the ones *I* go to have blocking programs. The ones that are so sensitive that if you were to so much as say "breast cancer", they block it.

[Saxo Grammaticus]

Seems pretty obvious that this councilman has his own computer at home, so he doesn't have to go to the library for his daily fix...

[Krash]

Hey, This IS sorta topical...Our newest High Court nominee says its OK to BAN Books because the Government PROBABLY won't enforce it anyway.

How's that for fuzzy-headed logic? Is this REALLY the kind of person we want on the highest court?

Scary! Much as I was disappointed by the Republicans, and I WAS...Quite...I do miss 'em.

[Dances With Books]

Joe makes a very good point. There are various privacy policies in place that could make exposing in any form difficult or next to impossible. It is a bit of a Catch-22 since those policies are also meant to keep the FBI and other agencies from monitoring what you read (which as far as I am concerned, should be your business anyhow).

As for the issue of blocking, that can vary. The courts have gone back and forth on that, but often favored that libraries have to unblock if you request it. Some libraries go so far as to having some computers, usually set aside in some location nowhere near the children's area that are non-filtered. And then there is the whole question of whether filters work or not (they mostly don't). Anyhow, the two cents from this librarian just trying to make it another day.

[Dances With Books]

Joe makes a very good point. There are various privacy policies in place that could make exposing in any form difficult or next to impossible. It is a bit of a Catch-22 since those policies are also meant to keep the FBI and other agencies from monitoring what you read (which as far as I am concerned, should be your business anyhow).

As for the issue of blocking, that can vary. The courts have gone back and forth on that, but often favored that libraries have to unblock if you request it. Some libraries go so far as to having some computers, usually set aside in some location nowhere near the children's area that are non-filtered. And then there is the whole question of whether filters work or not (they mostly don't). Anyhow, the two cents from this librarian just trying to make it another day.

[Dances With Books]

Joe makes a very good point. There are various privacy policies in place that could make exposing in any form difficult or next to impossible. It is a bit of a Catch-22 since those policies are also meant to keep the FBI and other agencies from monitoring what you read (which as far as I am concerned, should be your business anyhow).

As for the issue of blocking, that can vary. The courts have gone back and forth on that, but often favored that libraries have to unblock if you request it. Some libraries go so far as to having some computers, usually set aside in some location nowhere near the children's area that are non-filtered. And then there is the whole question of whether filters work or not (they mostly don't). Anyhow, the two cents from this librarian just trying to make it another day.

[Dances With Books]

Joe makes a very good point. There are various privacy policies in place that could make exposing in any form difficult or next to impossible. It is a bit of a Catch-22 since those policies are also meant to keep the FBI and other agencies from monitoring what you read (which as far as I am concerned, should be your business anyhow).

As for the issue of blocking, that can vary. The courts have gone back and forth on that, but often favored that libraries have to unblock if you request it. Some libraries go so far as to having some computers, usually set aside in some location nowhere near the children's area that are non-filtered. And then there is the whole question of whether filters work or not (they mostly don't). Anyhow, the two cents from this librarian just trying to make it another day.

[Dances With Books]

Joe makes a very good point. There are various privacy policies in place that could make exposing in any form difficult or next to impossible. It is a bit of a Catch-22 since those policies are also meant to keep the FBI and other agencies from monitoring what you read (which as far as I am concerned, should be your business anyhow).

As for the issue of blocking, that can vary. The courts have gone back and forth on that, but often favored that libraries have to unblock if you request it. Some libraries go so far as to having some computers, usually set aside in some location nowhere near the children's area that are non-filtered. And then there is the whole question of whether filters work or not (they mostly don't). Anyhow, the two cents from this librarian just trying to make it another day.

[stopeatingmysesamecake]

I count ten cents.

Jim - Give the librarian a refund.

[Dances With Books]

Apologizes in advance. I had no idea the posting did all that duplicating. Yikes.

[Farmer Bob and the City]

Sterilize him and them.

[icecycle]

@Dances
Times change.
Years ago it was the Satanist and ur local yocal wanted to know who checked out the latest book on demonology.
And the Librarian had to tell Supercop to back off.
(happened in my town, eventually the dead cows were tied to a flying saucer infestation. OK I live in a very strange town.)
Libraries are cool; I haven't been in one for about 10 years (they closed down the smoking area) but they will probably survive and help us out after.
Things go horribly bad.
(I have been told this will happen but the Fundy that told me this is not an Internet fan.)
So yeah, keep your books dry.
Don't be Louisville (you see that? that was sad.)
Because while I am researching some tomb to find out how to start a fire I want a warm dry book.

[bibliotechnique]

Thank you for your insight, Dances. Those of us who labor in libraries, whether at the Info Desk or at checkout, constantly have to justify ourselves and fight stereotypes right, left, and center. We get all kinds in my library, including those that have to be told to leave because of viewing porn (but, I swear, it was just a pop-up that wouldn't go away!). It's not my job to be the internet police, but if a patron tells me that another patron is viewing porn, I have to look into the situation (no pun intended). It can be embarrassing to me, but humiliating for the patron. Usually, that's enough to make them avoid the library for quite some time. I don't think a photo line-up would make anyone feel comfortable, so I don't go for that idea. As well, we have a confidentiality policy, so it wouldn't fly, anyway. But, as you said, Dances, I sure wish that people would use common sense, and just not view porn in the library.

[lynn]

i apologze...
what were y'all sayin?

i was distracted by the hot chica in a tiger tee and an even hotter dood in a tatoo and aquamarine boxers...

:)