[PUBLIB] Dangerous Access 2000: Media Coverage, ALA's Reaction (fwd)

[PUBLIB]

Sender: David Burt <dburt at afo.net>
Subject: Dangerous Access 2000: Media Coverage, ALA's Reaction

Dangerous Access 2000: Media Coverage, ALA's Reaction
March 17, 2000

The release of Dangerous Access 2000 is drawing national media attention, 
including USA Today and the Washington Times.  As the allegations of 
misconduct by the American Library Association spread, ALA President Sarah 
Long sought to distance herself from the controversy, while ALA 
spokesperson Judith Krug was caught spreading false information trying to 
discredit librarians exposed to pornography.

Since the announcement of the report "Dangerous Access 2000" and the 
documented proof that ALA actively tried to discourage libraries from 
responding, ALA President tried to distance herself from the controversy, 
telling NewsBytes, "I know nothing about that and that's not something we 
would do."

Meanwhile, ALA Office of Intellectual Freedom Director Judith Krug  was 
caught spreading false information as she tried to discredit  47 employees 
at the Minneapolis Public Library protesting  being subjected to pornogr  
aphy on a daily basis at their workplace.  The Washington Times reported, 
"Ms. Krug noted that of the 47 Minnesota Public Library employees, "only 
one is a librarian."  Minneapolis Public Library librarian Wendy Adamson 
responded in a letter sent to the Times:

 "Of the four names published in the Minneapolis StarTribune, three were 
librarians. (The newspaper could not include all 47 names.) Furthermore, in 
my department alone, six of our eight librarians signed the letter... I 
might also make the point that rank and/or status mean nothing when you 
stand in your workplace and see a hard core pornographic image before 
you... This letter represents my personal opinion, and is not an official 
response from my employer, the Minneapolis Public Library."

Krug also told the Times that, " We have almost no evidence of any influx 
or even a small number of concerns about accessing pornography on the 
Internet by anyone."  But that statement was again belied by a news story 
that appeared the very same day DA2K was released:

"Police first suspected someone was downloading child pornography at the 
library when they began finding it in the men's bathroom. But they didn't 
have any clues until a woman observed Rosentrater downloading the child 
pornography, Davenport said. She told police that she had notified the 
people at the front desk, but they said they couldn't do anything, 
Davenport said. But she didn't give up. She contacted Tumwater police."
The Olympian (Wash.), 3/16/2000.  Available at: 
<http://news.theolympian.com/government/govt2000/46397.shtml>

Media Coverage of Dangerous Access 2000 to date:

USA Today, "Conflicting views on filtering the Net", 3/16/2000.  Available 
at: <http://www.usatoday.com/life/cyber/tech/jkarch.htm>

Washington Times, "Libraries Register Gripes Over Porn", 3/16/2000. 
  Available at: http://www.washtimes.com/national/default-200031622349.htm 
<http://www.washtimes.com/national/default-200031622349.htm>

CNS News, "Family Advocates Demand Internet Filtering in Public Libraries", 
 March 16, 2000.  Available at: 
<http://www.conservativenews.org/ViewCulture.asp?Page=\Culture\archive\C  
UL20000316b.html>

Newsbytes, "Group Claims Library Association Suppresses Net Porn Data", 
3/13/2000
Available at (fee charged):  <http://www.newsbytes.com>

Newsbytes, "Minors Access Porn Using Library Computers", 3/15/2000
Available at (fee charged):  <http://www.newsbytes.com>

World Net Daily, "Libraries allowing Internet sex crimes?", 3/16/2000
Available at: 
<http://www.worldnetdaily.com/bluesky_dougherty/20000316_xnjdo_libraries  
_.shtml>

Tech Law Journal, "Rep. Istook Blames Clinton-Gore Administration for 
Stopping Porn Filtering Legislation", March 17, 2000.  Available at: 
<http://www.techlawjournal.com/censor/20000316.htm>

Radio:
Dr. Laura Show, 3/17/2000
Janet Parshall Show, 3/15/2000




David Burt
Filtering Facts.org
DavidBurt at filteringfacts.org
Phone/Fax 503 635-7048
210 S. State Street #7
Lake Oswego, Oregon