Life Issues/Family Ethics Political Action Committee

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Libraries That Filter Pornography

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FreedomAtRisk.org's comprehensive list of libraries that filter in an Excel file ... Click Here.

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Public Use of the Internet at the Tacoma Public Library

August 2005

Quotes from the Tacoma Library Internet policy:

"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." " chat and gaming are not authorized uses." "Users of Library Internet services should have no expectation of privacy while using the Internet."  From: http://www.tacomapubliclibrary.org/Page.aspx?nid=40, accessed August 13, 2005.

All 150 computers in the 10 branch system are filtered and on desktops except for one unfiltered computer at the downtown branch. This computer is visible from a staffed reference desk. If a legitimate site is blocked, users can request access. According to library staff, such requests are rare. Tacoma started Internet service under this approach around 1997, and it has worked well since then.

In Tacoma, a trial of an expensive sunken under the desk screen showed more problems than help.  It was difficult to view for some patrons, more cumbersome to assist patrons , and users of the hidden computer made more attempts to circumvent library Internet policy.

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Thousands use local public computers

The Star Press Online Service located in Muncie, Indiana.
By KEITH ROYSDON
Published: April 7, 2005

MUNCIE - In an era when computers are as familiar in most homes as telephones and microwave ovens, there is still a need for computers in public places that are accessible to anyone...

MPL uses filters to prevent its computers from being used to access Internet sites with obscenity or gambling, for example.Recent advances in filter programs mean that they will no longer block access to sites with information about breast cancer, Nilles said. Computer users over the age of 18 can ask that incorrectly-blocked Internet sites be available, she added. "We haven't had a problem with it," Nilles said.

For full story, http://www.thestarpress.com/articles/0/037535-5580-004.html

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Note: This city has acted to filter and better monitor computer use at the library to prevent inappropriate/ illegal access.

City OKs 'no porn' policy staff. Phoenix will add librarian, 3 assistants.

The Arizona Republic Dec. 22, 2004 12:00 AM

 "Phoenix officials have agreed to spend an extra $175,000 to add a full-time librarian and three assistants to help implement the city's new "no pornography" policy at all public libraries. The council made the decision after hearing that police officers had arrested a child molester who said that he had downloaded child pornography on a computer at a public library." "The computers in Phoenix's libraries now filter all Web sites that are classified as pornographic, and, unlike before, residents no longer have the option of having an unfiltered Internet session." "In addition, the city has taken several steps to try to provide a "safe" environment for those using the public library, officials said. For example, the library has implemented a computer logging system that monitors, tracks and saves all uploading and downloading at the terminals. The information will be maintained for 30 days and will be accessible to law enforcement agencies if they are armed with a court order. In addition, printers for the computers have been moved closer to reference desks so that staff can keep an eye on what materials are being printed out."

For full story purchase from Arizona Republic or retrieve with FVRL ProQuest Document Search

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Porn filters, other actions keep library patrons safe

Op-ed by Phil Gordon, mayor of Phoenix and Peggy Bilsten, vice mayor.

The Arizona Republic, Dec. 10, 2004 12:00 AM

In Phoenix, police arrested a similar child predator. In his motel room was a stash of child pornography he says he downloaded from the Phoenix Public Library. He, and too many like him, had relatively free and unfettered access to free porn at any Phoenix library. Until Sept. 8 when the two of us, with council support, said: "Enough is enough. Not in our libraries." Staffing * Staff members will terminate the computer sessions of anyone who hacks through the filters and displays porn on the screen. If it's child porn, the staff will immediately notify police. * We are preparing to transfer library security from the library staff to the Police Department. * Finally, library staff members will be assigned to computer areas at all times of public usage.

For full story purchase from Arizona Republic or retrieve with FVRL ProQuest Document Search

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Libraries support anti-porn ruling

Evansville, IN July 23, 2005

"One thing you'll notice at Evansville libraries are messages on the
computers. It basically says if you view pornographic material,you may be asked to
leave the library."

"That policy bans people from looking at pornographic material on any
computer at a public library. The decision was made to protect children who
may be in the building."

"Evansville libraries also require all computers be placed in public view,
so librarians will notice if anyone is looking at pornographic material."

"Evansville libraries say they'll disable the filters only to view
non-pornographic sites."

For full story: http://www.wtvw.com/Global/story.asp?S=1372176&nav=7CPEH3cx

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Cyberspace attracting more child predators

Posted: 03/23/2005 03:55 pm
Last Updated: 03/23/2005 05:28 pm
Story filed by NewsCenter16 Reporter
Kimberly Torres

 
"Danger lurks in an otherwise safe place.  'Anything of porn nature is not allowed,' said Larry Bennett of the St.
Joseph County Public Library.
 
"That's why there are security cameras, officers, filters, and constant monitoring at the St. Joseph Library. Just last week, security had to throw a couple of people out of the library for illegal activity on one of their computers.

"We don't want to play a role in something happening to a child," said Bennett."


Full story http://www.wndu.com/news/032005/news_41101.php

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Internet pornography filters urged at all libraries
Wednesday, March 30, 2005
By Jerome L. Sherman, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

"In early February, a pair of 12-year-old girls sat down at a computer
terminal in Bethel Park Library to review some schoolwork. At the same
time, a man sitting next to them viewed nude women wrestling on a Yahoo chat
room. The man, Scott Rickenbach, 38, was charged with disorderly conduct and
will appear before District Judge Robert C. Wyda for a hearing tomorrow
morning.

But Allegheny County Councilman Vince Gastgeb, R-Bethel Park, hopes
libraries across the county will adopt even stricter measures to prevent
similar incidents. He wants the eiNetwork, the computer network that links
the 44 public library systems of the Allegheny County Library Association,
to use filters capable of blocking all pornographic or inappropriate
material found on the Web.

for full story http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/05089/479667.stm

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Patrons' visits to porn sites may cost librarian her job

The Associated Press

August 13, 2005

 

VALPARAISO - "A Florida Panhandle librarian has been suspended and may be fired by officials upset that a registered sex offender and three boys allegedly used the city library's computers to access pornographic Internet sites."

"City Commissioner Robert Billingsley said he will ask the commission to dismiss Martin but declined to elaborate on why he thinks she failed to do enough to keep patrons from using the computers to find pornography. Hard drives have been removed from the computers and the public has been prohibited from using them until further notice."

"'We continually enforce our policy by monitoring all computers," she (Martin) wrote. "Any suspicious use is immediately checked by accessing the history of the patrons' Web use. In addition, the staff monitors the
patrons' use by 'walkthroughs' of the computer areas.'


The library's Internet policy forbids using computers for 'illegal or fraudulent activity' or displaying 'images which other library users may find offensive to view.'"

Full story at: http://www.gainesville.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050813/LOCAL/208130332&SearchID=7321832608019

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Libraries Keeping Kids Away from Online Porn
Aug 2, 2005, 4:04 PM

TOLEDO --   The internet can be a dangerous playground for kids. The government knows it and that's why lawmakers passed the Children's Internet Protection Act back in December, 2000. It forces libraries to monitor which web sites children have access to.  

11-year-old Lindsey Gilbert likes to surf the web but she also knows the dangers lurking in cyberspace. "If somebody's trying to sell something on the computer like drugs or something -- they shouldn't be on that," said Gilbert.

That's why the Toledo-Lucas County Library has protective measures in place to make sure kids don't see something they shouldn't.

Last summer, the library installed filters on all of its computers. They're the same kind used by many public schools. "It has 38 categories that you can deny your patrons accessing. And, of course, it includes any illegal materials, pornography, violence, hate, gambling, drugs," said Library Deputy Director Margaret Danziger.

The filters can tell if you're looking for something smutty or legitimate information. "They differentiate between someone who wants just to view breasts, nudity -- and those who want information on breast cancer," said Danziger.

But even adults don't have full access. They have to follow the library's internet policy, which prohibits users from viewing porn sites. That is good news for moms like Myla Gatlin, who says it's always nice to have an extra set of eyes watching out for your kids. "They're not around me all the time so that's kinda like a private mother of their own that guards them and helps me as well to keep them from seeing things that I would definitely not want them to see," said Gatlin.
 

Full story at: http://www.wtol.com/Global/story.asp?S=3672783