The Brooklyn Public Library weighs in on the internet porn issue with a post on its own blog today. Here’s what they have to say as a follow up to a number of posts quoting what some residents have been saying about the issue:
…since we’ve been a topic of discussion over the past few days, we wanted to address recent postings about porn in the library. Brooklyn Public Library is a community space not just for one group of people but for all. Not just a place to get books but a safe haven for the exchange of opinions and ideas. While some topics and content may be unpopular it is our job not to judge, just to provide.
At libraries across the country we are charged with the responsibility of providing free and open access to information. This information is not only provided in books we offer but also provided via the internet service we offer, DVDs, CDs, and newspapers.
We feel that is important to tackle this matter by sharing with you our policy on computer usage. Though we value the opinions of those that object to the policy, we have to keep in mind that what is obscene to some is not obscene to all.
5 responses so far ↓
1 Doug // May 14, 2008 at 4:22 pm
Glad to hear the BPL takes access seriously. It’s not easy… And adults aren’t the only ones filling the air with objectionable behavior. Just this afternoon at the playground with my four year old, I ran into teenagers who cursed every other f***ing word (and the teenagers were wearing Catholic school uniforms). And I have to turn off the news on the TV and radio to keep my kids from hearing about suicide bombings, earthquakes and cyclones killing 100,000 and school shootings.
2 loose stool // May 14, 2008 at 5:57 pm
Interesting, the use of the term “safe haven” for protecting the masturbaters. A little bit pimpy if you ask me.
3 Best View in Brooklyn // May 14, 2008 at 8:24 pm
Well this solves most of the problems:
6. All adults using computers designated for adults must use privacy screens. Adults using computers designated for children and teens must adhere to rules regarding computer use by children and teens.
From the guidelines for responsible internet use.
4 Lara Wechsler // May 15, 2008 at 7:22 am
Actually I do not see this statement on the BPL blog or the link you provided to it. I so wanted to see it there but I do not, there is just a link to its guidelines and policies on their last blog post but not to what you have quoted above. They may have written that but I think they retracted it, or I can not find it on their blog at this time.
5 Lara Wechsler // May 15, 2008 at 7:30 am
i think they might of realized they did not see it there because in the guidelines it says
” Adult users 17 and over have the option to be provided unfiltered access. The Library affirms the right of all users to access constitutionally protected material.”
So they figured why over do it and probably retracted the original statement on the blog since it is already mentioned in their rules in a more lawful way and they did not want to get on parents bad side or get comments like the one above.