Now Showing at the Library: Porn

The Washington Post ^ | June 25, 2006 | Laurence Leamer

[plan2succeed.org]

While the debate rages over what to do with the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library and whether we need a new central library for the city, a larger concern is being ignored: Internet porn at the library.

When I walked into the West End Branch Library on 24th Street NW last week, several men were sitting at the computers, looking at hard-core pornography on the Internet. Meanwhile, children on the other side of the room were also using computers. One child was running around behind the men, who were studiously observing the most intimate parts of a woman's body and couples performing sexual acts. I was sickened. I told a librarian that the library should at least limit such use to certain hours when children probably wouldn't be there. She said there are no limits whatsoever on the use of the Internet.

[plan2succeed.org]

Just as we have been saying.

FIRST LADY LAURA BUSH, THIS IS YOUR BACKYARD. YOU JUST APPEARED IN NEW ORLEANS AT THE AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION [ALA] MEETING. PLEASE DO SOMETHING TO HELP EXPOSE HOW THE ALA IS PARTLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS VERY TYPE OF PROBLEM, RIGHT WHERE YOU LIVE, AND NATIONALLY. YOU COULD MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE -- YOU COULD EXPLAIN HOW THE ALA'S "AGE" DISCRIMINATION POLICIES ALLOW CHILDREN ACCESS TO ANY MATERIAL NO MATTER HOW SEXUALLY INAPPROPRIATE AND HOW THIS VIOLATES THE SPIRIT OF US v. ALA, THE US SUPREME COURT CASE THE ALA LOST BIG IN 2003.

SafeLibraries.org - Are Children Safe in Public Libraries?

[capt. norm]

Shouting (all caps) is not greatly appreciated here...or anywhere else except sporting events.

[pennconservative]

Wow, the library in my hometown has very specific rules regarding use of the Internet. You have to fill out a form to use the Internet, and if you violate their rules your privileges are revoked.

[rottndog]

I would like to see people who view porn in a public library in the vicinity of children arrested and prosecuted for lewd conduct in the presence of minors. I can't believe that what goes on here is legal.

[nmh]

Guess what!

YOUR tax dollars FUND this.

[Third Order]

Why wouldn't this fall under "contributing to the delinquency of a minor"?

[Windsong]

She said there are no limits whatsoever on the use of the Internet.

Never dare the government to do a damned thing.

[plan2succeed.org]

Sorry for shouting. I just wanted the First Lady to see this. I trust her and respect her and she was a librarian once. She has what it takes to stop the ALA in its tracks merely by speaking the truth.

[plan2succeed.org]

ping

[jazusamo]

The Ft. Vancouver Regional Library District in Southern Washington has libraries in three counties. Residents battled the board of trustees for 6 or 7 years over Internet porn and the board refused to act on it .

Last year a bond measure was defeated for the second time for building two new facilities and many people said they voted no because of the Internet policy.

Several months ago the board finally voted to filter all computers in the libraries for adults as well as children and we've got another bond measure coming up shortly.

It seems you have to hit them in the pocketbook to overcome the ALA and ACLU influence.

[khnyny]

Trust me, I've seen much worse. Are you with the FP? (Font Police).

[4yearlurker]

The very same thing happened to me about 6 or 7 years ago at our local library. I was helping my 12 year old daughter with her school report and could not believe what the gentleman on the computer next to us was viewing! I told the librarian and she seemed afraid to enforce the Internet viewing rules. Thats when I finally broke down and bought a computer.

[rlmorel]

capt. norm is correct. In an online forum, all caps usually has a specific meaning to convey emotion that cannot be conveyed in a non-face to face envirionment.

[capt. norm]

Are you with the FP? (Font Police).

What part of my reply sounded authoritarian/police-like to you?

I was trying to be polite, but I seem to have failed.

[zipper]

I think I'd just loudly ask him "Are you really looking at child porn in a library full of children? [doesn't matter if it is or not, just embarrass the crap out of them]. What kind of sick SOB are you? Were you raised in a whorehouse? etc.-- Generally, just make yourself and him the center of attention for the universe for a few minutes. And it makes it a pain for the librarians to have to put up with irate mothers/fathers every time one of these perverts exercises his 'right' to view porn at the library. If they don't like your behavior, fine, let them kick you out, it's worth it.

[little jeremiah]

Library + porn. What is wrong with this picture?

[al baby]

I went to your home page what did you kid bring home from school that was pornographic?</

[little jeremiah]

plan - you can alert wagglebee to these kinds of articles, he runs the Moral Absolutes ping list. People who don't already know about what's going on libraries need to wake up.

[MarkL]

Oh please...

You know that those men were simply medical students studying for their gynocological exams!

Mark