[xrp]

Like most Americans, librarians are computer/technology idiots and don't know anything about computers.

Internet web browsers store a history of the sites that have been visited. By default, this history is kept for up to 20 days and you can review it if you like.

[Commander8]

At my local library children under 12 are not allowed at the internet computers unattended and if anyone is caught looking at something inappropriate, they are banned for a day. If they are caught a second time they are banned for a week. A third time, a month. A fourth time a year, a fifth time and it's permanent.

[Timesink]

The e-mails were between librarians talking about Dr. Laura's attacks on librarians. One librarian who works in the Canon City, Co. Public library stated that she does not allow any of Laura Schlessenger's books in her library and when "patrons" as for them she tells them that taxpayer monies should not be spent on right winged diatribe intent on shutting down libraries. (Intellectual freedom only applies to pornography?)

People get the government they deserve. If anyone in Canon City gave a damn, they'd wire someone up, or just barge right in with a video camera, and demand to know where the Laura Schlessenger books are. Then take the tape to the local TV stations or, if they won't bite, to local talk radio, or even Rush or Sean.

Except it doesn't really matter, because the Canon City librarian is lying through her teeth. Go visit their card catalog and type in "Schelssenger," then hit the "author" button. They have five of Dr. Laura's books and one audiotape.

[hoosierpearl]

I don't agree with the ALA on their position. However, a lot of libraries are concerned with what the local community thinks of them and the service they provide, and they get their funding mostly from the local community. So if you have concerns, you stand a good chance of keeping the library within bounds if you speak up about it. Our local library will not allow anyone underage to have access to the internet at all, unless the parents sign a permission form. The kids are completely barred from all access unless the parent says it is all right.

The library is definitely not a place to let children stay by themselves. Librarians are not babysitters, have no authority to discipline children. They also have no authority to prevent anyone from harming a child. In extreme circumstances, about all they can do is call the police and let them handle it. Even if someone comes in who is a known felon or a known sex offender [to the librarians] they cannot warn patrons in the library or prevent anything. They can only call the police after something happens.

In addition to concern for the type of material on the shelves and what kids could see on the internet, anyone can walk into the library. Sexual perverts, criminals, rapists, anyone. Homeless wanderers can hang out in there. It is an understatement, that that is not a safe place for a child to be on their own without their parents. Our library has a policy that requires young children to be with a supervising adult. If a parent drops a four year old off for story hour and takes off for exercise class, the parent would be in trouble.