Librarians to argue that blocking online porn is censorship

Associated Press ^ | March 25, 2002 | A/P Staff

[Mark Turbo]

Why not pay to rent books, just like Blockbuster videos (which we can not has not been put out of business by library movie loans.)

Some libraries do charge a fee to check out certain books, particularly new bestsellers. Speaking of video stores, I used to go to Hollywood Video to rent audiobooks, so the precedent is definitely there.

[Mark Turbo]

Did I leave anything out?

I would guess that public libraries are about the same as public schools in that regard - filled with pencil-necked pea- brained liberal education major leftwing whiny socialist democrat activist PETA nico-nazi do gooders.

No charge. :^)

[Dakmar]

No charge.

How kind of you. I'll have to remember to re-post some prose of yours that I have re-arrainged and/or mutilated. Be Warned, LOL.

SMILE!

[syriacus]

Testimony of Andrew Vachss before the United States National Commission on Libraries and Information Science; Presented Tuesday, November 10, 1998

Thank you for posting this. I fervently hope some people were listening to what Vachss said.

[07055]

I'll believe you when you tell me your library puts Hustler on the children's shelves.

Libraries "censor" stuff all the time. By not buying a book for the library's collection, you are depriving those who want to read it of that book.

I don't understand why some librarians feel that pornography deserves a place of honor in the library.

[Bagehot]

One man's porn is another man's erotica. So it probably is censorship (wonder what the ACLU will say). But looking at porn in the library seems a very odd thing to do, and it wouldn't bother me if I couldn't do it!!

[newgeezer]

Materials must be chosen based on standards of worth and based on what patrons request. Censorship doesn't even enter into it! It's that simple.

Do you see the obvious contradiction in your own statement -- HINT: note the bold type -- or, are you "that simple"?

[WALLACE212]

Forgive another FReeper for intruding; I spied my old buddy(ahem) vanilla giving yet another rant about us fascists here at FR. Having perused her (wild guess based on writing style and attitude) posts over the last few minutes, I have but one question.

What librarian goes to work at 3:30pm? Hmmmmm....

[07055]

Yes, our friend Vanilla is definitely of the disrupter variety. Check out what she/he posted a few days ago:

Open your eyes! The human race has destroyed the environment and may very well be the instrument for detruction of all life on this planet. Especially if the current occupant of the White House has his way and uses nuclear weapons. No doubt Mother Nature feels that the human race has been a big mistake and will one day go the way of the dinosaurs.

All I can say is that Vanilla has lasted on Free Republic a heck of a lot longer than we would on www.treehuggers.com

[07055]

Materials must be chosen based on standards of worth and based on what patrons request

So, that means that pornography, if requested, must be made available? And if it isn't made available, that means Fascism has prevailed?

Heck, I would be happy if my library would just stock Bernie Goldberg's "Bias"---but I guess I can always dream.

[WALLACE212]

Hey, 'nilla is a hoot to argue with. I vote we keep her around to keep our debate skills sharp.

And she always has to "go to work" when the incoming gets thick....LOL

[07055]

I vote we keep her around to keep our debate skills sharp.

Or just for the sheer amusement value. ;-)

[MonroeDNA]

*smile*

[gfactor]

thats a good question. of defining porn -- i believe in the US we are supposed [according to SCOTUS, i believe ]to use community standards. the problem being the internet is global, the surveillance needs to be done at the locality. most of these filters are off-the shelf and not very tailored. my solution: put the library computers in a public place. i have a feeling not many will look at porn -- and the community will be able to apply its standards.

[Labyrinthos]

my solution: put the library computers in a public place. i have a feeling not many will look at porn -- and the community will be able to apply its standards.

The solution that you propose is so obvious, direct, and bound to work, no wonder those loosers in Congress never thought of it.

[07055]

put the library computers in a public place. i have a feeling not many will look at porn -- and the community will be able to apply its standards.

I believe that someone in Dallas posted how the homeless use the library internet access to view pornography. I doubt putting the computers in a public place would deter any of them. Nothing deters them from using the public streets as a toilet.

[max61]

What the government is saying is, "If you want to receive moeny from us, you must do this."

In other words, extortion.

---max

[Congressman Billybob]

You seem to have forgotten that you are paid by the taxpayers. If they want efforts made to keep pornography out of their libraries, it is not your place to say no.

It sounds like your library is using bargain basement software. You get what you pay for, You need better software, and you need to learn how to use it.

But if you genuinely believe, with the American Library Association, that this is "censorship" and is "wrong," then you have two choices. You can either find a new profession, or you can raise the funds yourself to build, stock and staff a library, and then you can run it any way you choose.

You have no right to treat the place you work as YOUR preserve to be run how YOU choose, in opposition to the people who are paying for it. You work for us; we don't work for you.

Congresman Billybob