The CPL is XXX?!: August 2009

Saturday, August 29, 2009

Protecting Kids in Libraries...

Just another article to illustrate how "common sense" keeping porn out of libraries should be:
http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20090824/OPINION/908249939/1350?Title=GUEST-OPINION-Gates-not-erasers-to-protect-kids-in-library

Enjoy!
Read more!

Thursday, August 27, 2009

More Awareness - YAY!

This article is great! It is specifically about CPL. What I like about this article is that it talks about how lovely the library really is (or could be, without the whole porn issue) and then it points out that the one thing that's a total bummer is CPL's policy of allowing open Internet pornography use at its branches.

I feel it's appropriately titled as, "The Chicago Public Library: It's Not Just for Reading Anymore". Here's a link to the article for the entire read. (Don't worry - it's a quick one).

Unlike this author, I really do think that things with change - with time and perseverance, common sense will eventually win out for CPL.
Read more!

Sunday, August 9, 2009

This made me laugh out loud...

there's just something about stating the obvious with such panache - it's a wonderous thing. {contented sigh}

Enjoy!
Public Libraries Are Havens For Porn And Wankers
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Lewd Acts at the Library - Nothing New...

There's been a recent upsurge of interest in indecent acts occurring in public libraries as a result of downloading internet pornography. For anyone that might have a hard time connecting the dots on this one - that means there has been more publicity on the issue of open masturbation in public libraries.

If you've been following this blog for awhile, this is not necessarily news to you. You know as much as the next patron that this has been an issue as long as public porn use has been an issue.

However, I thought I'd share links to some of these articles, all based around the Sunshine Coast in Queensland:
Library Porn Pervs Caught in the Act
Porn Access Spark Library 'Indecent Acts'
Free Porn Prompts Sex Acts at Libraries
Men Download Porn, Perform Lewd Acts at Public Libraries

Here are some gems from the article, Free Porn Prompts Sex Acts at Libraries (link above):

"This is obviously a very serious matter, because public libraries are family-friendly places with lots of young people around. We don't want them exposed to this sort of lewd behaviour, which is obviously a secondary behaviour to the (downloading of) pornography."

"The pressure is on us to do something about it because we do not want to be attracting people to our public libraries for this purpose."

I agree. This is a serious matter for the CPL too - for many of the same reasons listed above: public libraries are family-friendly, and lots of young people are around. And the pressure is definitely on us to do something about it.
Read more!

Saturday, August 8, 2009

Possible Solution to the Library Porn Problem???

In this article titled, "IT Experts Could Foil Library Porn Pervs", a potential solution to the library porn issue is presented - a filter-firewall technology called a sonic wall.

This sonic wall technology promises much greater flexibility on a library-by-library basis (i.e. if non-porn content is accidentally blocked, it's super easy for a librarian to unblock it.

But, it seems that the issue at CPL is more an issue of policy and much less an issue of technology. They have no policies against porn at all - only policies supporting it...

Here's a link to the complete article: (http://www.thedaily.com.au/news/2009/aug/07/it-experts-could-foil-library-porn-pervs/), as covered in the TheDaily.com (Queensland).
Read more!

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What is this all about?

The American Library Association has directed America's Public Libraries to allow open, unfettered access to the Internet, including pornography. (With the exception of child pornography, which remains illegal.)

However, this means that people who are not choosing to view this material may and probably will be exposed to it, including children.

These two clear sides create a national issue with each city and state being able to choose how they would like to handle it. Several cities, including Boston, Minneapolis and even New York City either already ban pornography in their public libraries or have taken steps towards protecting those that don't want to see it. However, the Chicago Public Library (CPL) continues to protect the open and rampant use of Internet pornography.

Here's the story...

I went to the Harold Washington branch of the Chicago Public Library (CPL) on Saturday, 9/27, to help some friends of mine learn computer skills.

While near the computers, I noticed a library patron openly viewing porn. I politely tapped him on the shoulder and said, "should you be watching that here?" He apologized and quickly walked out of the library, embarrassed.

I assumed it was an isolated incident. Until I walked over to greet another friend. Then I noticed several more patrons viewing porn. Alarmed, I asked the librarian on duty if there was a list of guidelines posted for the use of the library Internet. There wasn't. But there was a general list of rules. Among those was no use of your cell phone as it may disturb other patrons. There was also a rule against sexual harassment, but no rule explicitly stating that the use of porn was not allowed.

I asked the librarian about it. She said it was their "right" to use porn on the library Internet and computer. It is their right to do this with the facilities paid for by taxpayer dollars.

I asked her if they have to turn it off if I tell them that I find it offensive. She told me that I could not tap them on the shoulder and tell them it's offensive because "it might offend them".

Although privacy screens were installed, we could see EVERYTHING (I almost didn't believe that privacy screens were installed because we could see everything so clearly). The images were difficult to ignore and very clearly portraying sex acts on several workstation screens, making it impossible to look away - it was everywhere.

I stayed to help (though completely disgusted). While I was walking from one computer work station to another, a patron that was using pornography turned to look at me and literally looked me up and down. And I felt unsafe. In the public library, with my husband and two of our male friends, I felt unsafe. And voiceless.

As we were leaving, we spoke with the guards and were told that their use of these computers to view pornography is covered by their First Amendment rights and that privacy screens are installed on the monitors for just that reason. I was given contact information for the Commissioner of the Library and at the same time informed that she is also involved with "several law firms".