Camas Public Library
Camas Public Library Provides Unfiltered Internet Access
"Internet/Personal Computer Use Policy
1.0 Statement of Principle... Library patrons may not use public library Internet stations for unlawful purposes or to view illegal content. The library uses technology protection measures to filter content in accordance with the Children’s Internet Protection Act. The library will unblock erroneously blocked Web sites upon request. The library will disable the entire filter upon any request by users 17 or over, for any lawful purpose.
10. It is prohibited to: ...
- Subject other library users or staff to images which could be considered objectionable."
Retrieved 9/28/07 from http://www.ci.camas.wa.us/library/libpol1.htm
LifePac Commentary
October 2007It should be noted that Camas Public Library patrons age 17 and older do not need the intervention of library staff to disable the internet filter, but can do so themselves privately. In addition, unfiltered wireless Wi-Fi internet access is now available enabling any patron to use their own laptop computer for full access to the web. Notice that "any lawful purpose" is allowed, and most porn is unfortunately considered lawful. The only restraint given in this written policy is the prohibition of subjecting others to porn images. Chief Justice Rehnquist, writing in 2002 for the US Supreme Court, stated "Most libraries already exclude pornography from their print collections because they deem it inappropriate for inclusion. We do not subject these decisions to heightened scrutiny; it would make little sense to treat libraries' judgments to block online pornography any differently." As the libraries listed below, Camas should also use pornography filters on all library computers for all ages. Wrongly blocked information can be made accessible to adults by request.
Washington State Libraries That Have Only Filtered Internet Access And/Or Prohibit Pornography
Fort Vancouver Regional Library Has Only Filtered Internet Access And Prohibits Porn
"Only filtered Internet access is offered for all ages.
“Internet access shall be as follows:
1. Viewing of pornographic Web sites is prohibited in FVRL libraries.
2. All FVRL computers with full Internet access shall be equipped with filtering software. The default filter setting shall be "basic filtered." The basic filter blocks pornographic Web sites.
3. Minors (ages 17 and under). A minor in this age group may select or the parent or legal guardian of a minor in this age group may select for them "enhanced filtered" or no access as an alternative to the default of basic filtered access.
4. Adults (ages 18 and over). Adults may select enhanced filtered access as an alternative to the default of basic filtered access.
"Basic filtered access" refers to commercially available software FVRL employs to block from view pornographic images. There is no assurance that such software will block all Internet sites that could be considered inappropriate or that sites acceptable for viewing by young children will not be inadvertently blocked.
"Enhanced filtered access" refers to commercially available software FVRL will employ to block from view pornographic images, and also other material that could be considered inappropriate for young children and that some patrons may choose to avoid. There is no assurance that such software will block all inappropriate Internet sites or that sites acceptable for viewing will not be inadvertently blocked.
APPEAL RIGHTS:
Internet users of any age m ay request access to a particular site that they feel has been inappropriately blocked. Decisions about whether to unblock a site will be in accordance with district guidelines.”http://www.fvrl.org/aboutus/policies/electronic_policy.htm
“Anyone who is observed viewing prohibited images in the library may be asked by staff to stop doing so.” http://www.fvrl.org/aboutus/internet.htm"
FVRL has security staff hired to patrol the main library.
Wi-Fi Access is Filtered at FVRL branches where available-
Stevenson Community Library- staff confirmed by phone
White Salmon Valley Community Library- staff confirmed by phone
Retrieved 10/8/07 from http://www.fvrl.org/aboutus/policies/electronic_policy.htm
Tacoma, Washington Public Library Has Only Filtered Internet Access And Prohibits Porn
Public Use of the Internet at the Tacoma Public Library
"It is further the policy of the Tacoma Public Library to implement measures including, without limitation, technology protection measures, with respect to its computers with access to the internet, that protect against visual depictions that are obscene, child pornography, or harmful to minors; provided that, access to the Internet shall be made available without such measures in place upon request of persons 17 years of age or older for bona fide research or any other lawful purpose. For purposes of this policy, the terms used herein, shall have the same meaning as given in the Children's Internet Protection Act (114 Stat. 2763A-335) as now or hereafter amended. The Library’s acquisition of Internet materials to be made available to Library patrons does not include graphic materials depicting full nudity and sexual acts which are portrayed obviously and exclusively for sensational or pornographic purposes."http://wwwv3.tacomapubliclibrary.org/Page.aspx?nid=40 retrieved 18-8-2007"All wireless internet access passes through the Tacoma Public Library's content filters and the Library reserves the right to restrict access to web sites identified by the filtering software as being of a sexually explicit nature."http://wwwv3.tacomapubliclibrary.org/Page.aspx?nid=109 retrieved 18-8-2007
Puyallup Public Library has only Filtered Internet access
Reference desk staff contacted by phone (October 8, 2007) stated that only filtered internet access is allowed on their desktop computers (approximately 48) and WI-FI service.
"Puyallup Wireless Internet Access Policy'The Library will provide Internet access points ("hot spots") for users with laptops or other
portable wireless devices. The access points will allow users access to filtered Internet
from their portable wireless devices while located within range of the access point.' "
Retrieved 10/14/07 from http://www.cityofpuyallup.org/files/library/2554ea2a5ec4208c.pdf
Renton Public Library has only Filtered Internet access
Renton's Assistant Library Director contacted by phone on 9-27-2007 stated that its computers are filtered, and that wrongly blocked website can be unblocked by staff for an adult user upon request.
More information at http://rentonwa.gov/living/default.aspx?id=2144
Seattle Public Library does not filter out pornography
Seattle Public Libraries and King County libraries
Team 7 Investigators Find Crimes, Threats At Central Library
SEATTLE -- Seattle's new $169 million downtown library has attracted national attention for its design and beauty.
It has also attracted perverts, mental patients, and other security problems. KIRO Team 7 Investigative Reporter Chris Halsne has an exclusive look inside the Central Library.Getting expelled from this library is no easy task, but hundreds of patrons have already accomplished it. Many are kicked out for repeatedly getting drunk or sleeping here, but KIRO Team 7 Investigators also discovered some more serious matters, like threats, sexual misconduct and assaults...
Patrons have repeatedly been expelled for sexually inappropriate behavior. In just one afternoon near the fifth floor computer terminals, we observed several men acting out things you wouldn't want your children to see...So you can see for yourself what's going on at your local library, we've created a database of all incidents in King County or Seattle that either got patrons expelled or caused police to respond.for full story:Seattle Public Library"Computers with commercial filtering software for public use in the children's area at each location in the Seattle Public Library system."In the rest of the library the computers are not filtered for any age, with no prohibition against porn viewing."All users are asked to respect the privacy of other users and not attempt to censor or comment upon what others are viewing."Loving our library and its flaws,
Seattle Times, May 1, 2005"Like a love affair that has lasted for almost a year, we are starting to see a few flaws. It smells sometimes. It makes you wait. And, more than once while visiting the Seattle Central Library, we've spotted pornography on the computer screen...
'I love that there are public places and where people can borrow books and use a computer," said patron Sheila Magnano. "But to me, pornography is the bottom.'
And, in response to concerns about patrons viewing pornography, Harris said, the library has implemented closer staff supervision and installed devices that block neighboring patrons from seeing other screens..."If we are a city committed to our Central Library, we need to remember that "public" is the system's middle name. Smell, porn and all."
King County LibrariesKing County libraries allows unfiltered Internet access for users 17 and up where full range of pornography is available. Porn viewing is not prohibited and privacy screens are placed on computers.In children's area, all computers are filtered and at a stricter level.KENT CHILD PORN CASE CLOSEDSEATTLE POST INTELLIGENCER Sep 10, 2002
..."Detectives say someone used public computers at the downtown library to view child pornography.They have printouts of Internet pages and advertisements that contain pictures of children engaged in sex acts. But finding out to whom the printouts belong would take a lot of money - and time."
