The CPL is XXX?!

Sounds familiar...

2012-02-01T13:13:00.004-06:00

I came across a news story this morning that's all too familiar. It reminded me a lot about my own experiences at CPL back in 2008 and ruffled my feathers enough to get me to draft a post about it. This story was about a ten year old girl who was exposed to hardcore pornography in her public library during a Sunday mid-afternoon outing with her mother and sister. Read the news story linked above

Washington - Way to be!

2010-05-07T12:17:00.003-05:00

Here's a news article that I LOVED reading! Washington (the state, not the capital) just made the news regarding this library porn issue on seattlepi.com.Apparently, the ACLU had sued against filtering porn in the library (big surprise, right?) and the State Supreme Court ruled in favor of filters, stating "Public libraries in Washington can filter Internet content to block things like

The Libary Porn Issue Across the US...

2009-10-27T21:03:00.000-05:00

Here are just some links to news stories regarding this issue in the USA:http://www.argus-press.com/articles/2009/10/08/news/news1.txtReminding us - it really IS about protecting our kids:http://www.connectmidmichigan.com/news/story.aspx?id=353426Also, I found this site: http://www.columbian.com/article/20091010/OPINION01/710109998/-1/OPINIONIt's a political website for the school board in

International Example of the Libary Porn Issue

2009-10-25T20:47:00.001-05:00

Canada... London... Australia...Examples of pornography use in public libraries are popping up all over the world, not just in the United States. Of course, the American Library Association (ALA) has directed American libraries to offer completely unfettered access to the internet, with the only exception being child pornography. It's important to note that although the ALA directs American

Filters Aren't Required to Keep Porn Out

2009-10-20T20:33:00.002-05:00

The title of this news article can be a bit misleading - but it gets the point across. Greensboro Central Library in fact does NOT filter out internet pornography. However, it DOES have policies against using internet pornography. Here's the deal, taken from the article:Instead, anyone caught looking at porn are asked to leave by security guards. Repeat offenders can be banned for a day, week,

How to Get Porn out of Public Libraries...

2009-10-18T20:25:00.004-05:00

One of the first sites that I found while researching this issue of open pornography use in the CPL was Plan2Succeed.org. This site has a lot of great links - but it was easy for me to get lost on the site. Anyway - I remember finding this page a long time ago and thinking how awesome it was to have so many great ideas in one place. I recently stumbled on this page again and thought it would

Governmend Funded Outlets to Porn

2009-09-20T07:30:00.006-05:00

The author of this article, Rhonda Callow, lays out the arguments FOR anti-porn filters in schools and libraries. And as she says so eloquently, "...there must be some benefits to having pornography filters on the computers of our schools and libraries, otherwise, aren’t these just government funded outlets to porn?"I'll break down her most beautiful arguments here:It protects our children from

Protecting Kids in Libraries...

2009-08-29T09:29:00.002-05:00

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-libraryEnjoy!

More Awareness - YAY!

2009-08-27T08:01:00.003-05:00

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

This made me laugh out loud...

2009-08-09T08:14:00.001-05:00

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

Lewd Acts at the Library - Nothing New...

2009-08-09T07:42:00.000-05:00

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

Possible Solution to the Library Porn Problem???

2009-08-08T07:16:00.003-05:00

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

Common Sense, Welcome!

2009-07-12T21:36:00.004-05:00

This great article, based out of Oregon, does a great job of laying out some of the basic arguments for keeping porn out of libraries. The author, Elizabeth Hovde, even provides some of the local history of this issue. It's a really great read.Granted, it's an opinion article - published on Oregon Live as part of The Stump, "Oregon opinion articles, political commentary, cartoons and more" - so

Slow Progress, and not even at CPL - but we'll take it!

2009-05-30T14:27:00.004-05:00

(http://www.argus-press.com/articles/2009/05/29/news/news6.txt)Looks like the library in Owosso, MI is starting to rethink their current stance on free and open Internet porn use. I commend the individuals who helped to make this happen - you are awesome! ;)But the fact that anything needs to be done about this at all just makes my head spin. I don't understand how common sense was lost on such

What a cute title for an Editorial column!

2009-03-27T19:13:00.000-05:00

So - a contributing writer to the Santa Monica Mirror, Steve Stajich, wrote a nice enough editorial column about porn use in his local library called, Santa Monica Library Internet: Please Remain Dot Calm. I say nice enough because I'm sure Stajich meant well. And I don't know him personally, so I have to assume that he really IS looking out to protect the First Amendment. Anyway - the article

Everyone gets it. Except CPL, that is.

2009-03-19T18:23:00.002-05:00

In this article about the Kingston Frontenac Public Library (Kingston, Canada), Library is Heart of the City, the author clearly illustrates how important this library is to the surrounding community. To be sure, most libraries are clearly important to their community. The CPL is very important to the community in Chicago too - but for some reason they still hold to the belief that they have "

Porn does not belong in public libraries...

2009-03-09T18:21:00.001-05:00

A public library in Manchester, New Hampshire recently kicked out a Registered Sex Offender (RSO) for trying to access Internet Pornography using the library's computer.We at the Obscene Rights blog are proud of the stance the Manchester library has taken to ensure the safety of other library patrons. It's always good to see librarians at a Public Library using common sense instead of only

Porn in Libraries is upsetting

2009-02-25T17:35:00.002-06:00

I read an article today about a woman in the Salt Lake City library who was with a children's field trip when they were exposed to 2nd-hand porn. She asked the teenagers viewing it to turn it off and they did. Please note two very important items:1. She was allowed her Freedom of Speech in asking them to turn it off.2. This happened in the children's section.In this news article, you can tell

More about Ogden

2009-02-20T07:46:00.001-06:00

Here's a great article I found at Townhall.com. There's been so much written about this topic lately - and so many good points have been made both for and against Ogden. I'm still opposed to someone with proven ties to the pornography industry being responsible for enforcing laws that effect pornographers (obscenity laws, etc). As mentioned in the article linked to above:His nomination has

quick and simple!

2009-02-17T18:12:00.000-06:00

If you haven't called yet re: the Call to Action post from yesterday, please do. This simple call will take maybe a full minute of your time.When I called, I simply stated my name, why I was calling and that I was against Ogden being accepted for the position of Deputy Attorney General for the Department of Justice. The aide on the other end of the phone asked for my zip code and thanked me for

Call to Action!

2009-02-16T18:27:00.001-06:00

All right, folks - we're at a pivotal moment here. It's still possible for us to make our dissatisfaction with the David Ogden as nominee to be the Deputy Attorney General for the Department of Justice known. If Ogden get's it, he'll be #2 (under Eric H. Holder Jr.)As someone that opposes the free and rampant use of internet pornography in my public library, it concerns me that Ogden might

Church wades into debate about Internet porn in libraries

2009-02-06T07:14:00.000-06:00

Cambridge, Ontario is dealing with the same issues of filtering, censorship and second-hand library porn. It's a relief to see the community getting involved by way of the The First United Church in Cambridge.

THE TOXIC AMERICAN PUBLIC LIBRARY: VIOLATING CHILDREN WITH “HARMFUL MATTER”

2009-02-05T19:26:00.002-06:00

This is a really interesting article written back in 2000 about rampant porn use in America's public libraries. (Click on the title to access the complete article). The author is Dr. Judith A. Reisman. Here's detailed article information and Dr. Reiman's website with even more white papers and articles.Here's a excerpt:That the ALA is in direct conflict with the majority of the tax paying

Deputy U.S. Attorney General Nominee Has Adult Ties

2009-02-04T18:27:00.003-06:00

There's some big news today. President Obama has nominated David W. Ogden to be the U.S. Attorney General. Ogden's professional history is littered with ties to the pornography industry and he has even opposed filters on library computers for CHILDREN to use (CIPA). While there is no proof that his past will dictate his future. It is obvious that he has closer ties with Penthouse, Playboy

Milabra - Detecting Images from Puppies to Porn

2009-02-03T18:15:00.008-06:00

This is an interesting technology improvement and potentially has the capability in assisting with Adult Content Prevention. Maybe something we can use in the Chicago Public Library. IF the powers that be ever decide to stop protecting rampant Internet Porn use (and the subsequent broadcasting effect.)Anyway - here's an article about this technolcogy, and here's the Milabra official website.

When will the Chicago Public Library get it?

2009-01-29T18:01:00.001-06:00

The Librarian Convention in Denver these past few days has gained some attention in the local paper, Denver Westword News. In the article, Librarians Head to Denver for a Quiet Riot, the Denver Westword News indicates the public library is starting to take a new stance on the open displays of pornography use by library patrons. Here is the quote (emphasis mine):* You can still surf porn at the

The Price of Pleasure

2009-01-27T18:24:00.003-06:00

Disclaimer: This particular blog post isn't specifically about banning pornography from the Chicago Public Library. However, it is educational and applies to the porn industry at large.Since the beginning of this campaign, I've become aware of several people on both sides of this struggle. This struggle being whether or not we should allow and use government dollars, even in part, to fund

A secret revealed...

2009-01-25T10:37:00.004-06:00

On the PostSecret website (http://postsecret.blogspot.com/), readers submit secrets on postcards. One of this week's secrets was about being exposed to porn at a young age and how it affected that person.This is the postcard:

More "In the News"

2009-01-16T07:05:00.002-06:00

Yet another news story to support the argument that Pornography in the Public Library is dangerous.Man convicted of viewing child porn at Lake Oswego Libraryhttp://www.oregonlive.com/news/index.ssf/2009/01/man_convicted_of_viewing_child.html

Sacramento Public Library Finds a Workable Solution...

2009-01-15T18:18:00.001-06:00

I just found this story online: http://www.worldnetdaily.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=62397. It dates back to April '08, but is exactly what libraries across the US have been facing for some time now - censorship vs library porn.So I checked Sacramento's official Internet Use Policy to see what was decided. You can link to that here: http://www.saclibrary.org/about_lib/

Dangerous? Yes. Another example from the news...

2009-01-14T17:07:00.002-06:00

Here is yet another example of why allowing porn use in the library is dangerous. Here's the full story:Porn-watching peeper arrested in library(Found on the following website: http://media.wildcat.arizona.edu/media/storage/paper997/news/2009/01/14/News/Police.Beat-3585459.shtml) A man was arrested on charges of second degree criminal trespassing Jan. 9 at 10 a.m. Police responded to the Main

Why allowing porn in the library is a bad idea...

2008-12-21T12:11:00.000-06:00

Mostly - allowing pornography in the public library is a bad idea because it's dangerous. It's dangerous for several reasons. Here are a few.1. The children.When porn is watched openly in a public space like the Chicago Public Library, children are exposed to it. First of all, it is a problem for children to be exposed to porn in a public environment like this because, in many cases, children

My response to Mary A. Dempsey

2008-11-26T19:18:00.004-06:00

November 24, 2008Mary A. DempseyCommissionerChicago Public Library400 S. State StChicago, IL 60605Dear Commissioner Dempsey:Thank you for your response to my recent inquiries. I appreciate you taking the time to address the concerns that have been brought to your attention. This issue of rampant pornography use in our public library is indeed a complicated issue and a very serious one at that.I

Pornography in Public: The Full Cover Story

2008-11-25T22:29:00.003-06:00

Courtesy of WGN9.Here's the complete story.http://www.wgntv.com/library

Pornography in Public: The Teaser

2008-11-25T15:47:00.006-06:00

WGN Channel 9 is airing this story tonight as their cover story: Surfing Porn in Public?If you can watch this, or maybe tivo it and watch it later - please do. :)Tuesday, November 25thWGN99PM

A Response from the Library Commissioner

2008-11-25T07:35:00.012-06:00

The images below are jpgs of the letter I received from the Library Commissioner, Mary A. Dempsey, in response to my concerns regarding open and rampant pornography use in the public library.Please note: personal information has been blacked out for posting purposes.(note the date, Saturday, November 15th)(Note the postmark, Wednesday, November 19th)

About Privacy (continued)

2008-11-24T18:24:00.005-06:00

Library personnel have cited the right of "privacy" several times in regards to the mention of pornography use in our public library. They seem to think that there is an implied and completely understood right to privacy for patrons choosing to view these images in public - privacy expected to be honored by both library staff and fellow patrons.My previous entry addresses the issue that public

About Privacy

2008-11-23T22:03:00.001-06:00

Because I have been subject to second-hand pornography does not mean that I purposefully invaded the privacy of library patrons around me. I am not a nosy person and couldn't care less about what consenting adults do in the true privacy of their own residence. However, what a person does in public affects me directly. There is no privacy in a public area. This is similar to accusing someone of

Attn: Call to Action

2008-11-17T12:00:00.004-06:00

I'm currently looking for readers who would be willing to share their own stories of being exposed to porn in the library. Anything from general disgust, to particular incidents would be greatly appreciated. If you do have a story or sentiment that you would like to share, please contact me at my email address listed on this blog.Submissions will remain anonymous upon request and will only be

Next Steps

2008-11-14T12:35:00.003-06:00

Since the inception of this blog, the idea was to get in touch with other people who are already trying to get things changed in regards to banning the open use of hard-core pornography in the Chicago Public Library. (After all, why reinvent the wheel?)In my research, I found several people who have worked hard to make these changes. As a result, I discovered information on HB1727. At this

Filing a Complaint...

2008-10-18T13:31:00.006-05:00

I visited the library again this morning. The good news is that I was able to meet CPL librarian, Laura Morgan. I plan to write more about Ms. Morgan and all of the work that she has done in regards to the issue of pornography in the library - so stay tuned and check back! Ms. Morgan is a true warrior and I've been very impressed with a lot of the work she's done. It was an honor to meet

HB1727

2008-10-18T08:48:00.005-05:00

I had a great conversation with a fellow warrior against open porn in public libraries - David E. Smith, the Executive Director of Illinois Family Institute (IFI).Remarkably, this issue has been around for quite awhile now - about ten years.He spent a lot of time in Springfield, working to enact legislation. There was some headway made with the intro of HB1727, but it's been stalled since May of

My Letters to the CPL Board of Directors

2008-10-17T18:14:00.006-05:00

A similar letter was sent to each of the seven members of the CPL Board of Directors, complete with enclosures of current Public Computer Use Policies for various cities across our country.October 17, 2008Jane Carr ThompsonBoard of Directors, PresidentChicago Public LibraryCommissioner’s Office, 10N400 S. State St.Chicago, IL 60605Dear President Thompson:I am a proud resident of Chicago and an

It doesn't make sense...

2008-10-17T06:56:00.007-05:00

People just don't expect to have access to hard-core pornography in public libraries.There's just so much about this that doesn't make sense. Let's take another look at the Chicago City Ordinances and ponder...According to City Ordinance 8-8-080:It's not okay for someone to show their own genitals in public. No - they would get arrested, or at the very least, fined. Even if it's only being

My follow-up Letter to Alderman Fioretti

2008-10-13T17:15:00.001-05:00

October 13, 2008Robert W. FiorettiChicago Alderman – 2nd WardCity Hall Office121 North LaSalle StreetRoom 300, Office 02Chicago, IL 60602Alderman Fioretti -Thank you again for taking the time to call me on Thursday evening. I appreciate having the opportunity to voice my concerns with you.You had mentioned a technology that would keep pornographic sites in their own domain. I believe something

In the News: Porn in Public Libraries

2008-10-12T19:42:00.004-05:00

Dallas, Texas - January 2008Dallas, Texas - February 2008Brooklyn, New York - May 2008Boulder, Colorado - June 2008Cleveland, Ohio - June 2008Chicago - Part 1 by CBS2 NewsChicago - Part 2 by CBS2 News

My Conversation with Alderman Fioretti

2008-10-09T22:30:00.002-05:00

All of my letters and phone calls have finally paid off - Alderman Robert Fioretti called me earlier tonight. He expressed that pornography in our public libraries is indeed a problem. However, he didn't seem to think that filters were the answer. (Regular readers of the blog will remember that I've never pushed filters as the ONLY answer to this problem anyway). There was no specific

Contact Information for Elected Officials

2008-10-08T07:18:00.000-05:00

The Illinois State Board of Elections website has an amazing tool called "District/Official Search". Just follow the link below. After you enter your address, you'll be presented with contact information for the Congressional, Legislative (Senate), Representative and Statewide Elected Officials.http://www.elections.il.gov/DistrictLocator/SelectSearchType.aspx?NavLink=1When you have that contact

Chicago City Ordinances

2008-10-07T07:05:00.009-05:00