[Publib] Librarians required to provide access to porn?wasWIRED...

[Judy Anderson]

It sound like animal abuse to me. Would we allow people to view episodes of 
animal abuse? Why is that less of a concer than porn? (Other than not 
something you see often in a library.)

To me, this is clearly sexual. There's the additional standard of not 
serving any purpose other than to appeal to prurient interests; however ther 
are those who would say it was an experiment to see what the animals would 
do.

It's not an easy question to answer. The usual, I can't define  it, but I 
know it when I see it. My big concern with any of this, porn or animal 
abuse, would be children seeing it.

We also need to remember that free speech is not absolute. Not all speech is 
constitutionally protected.

Judy Anderson
Oregon
The perfect gift for the librarian
or library student on your list!
CHECK OUT THE NEW DESIGN
Visible and Vocal Librarian
http://www.cafepress.com/vavlibrarian




>From: "Dutcher, Henry" <HDutcher at enfield.org>
>To: <publib at webjunction.org>
>Subject: RE: [Publib] Librarians required to provide access to 
>porn?wasWIRED...
>Date: Fri, 1 Dec 2006 09:49:40 -0500
>
>Oh, I try so hard not to respond, but alas....
>
>For me the issue revolves around what is it and why do we think the way
>we do about it.
>
>Here is, I kid you not, a true example from my library.
>
>A patron was nice enough to leave running a video of mice entering and
>leaving a female's genitalia and related orifice.  The female was very,
>very still which leaves one to wonder about what condition she was in.
>
>Now, is this sexual?  Is it Pornographic?  Is it Obscene?  If it is not
>sexual what makes it pornographic or obscene?  What filter do you think
>would filter it?  There was no text.
>
>Yes, in case you wonder about me.  It was one of the most disturbing
>things I have ever viewed.  And no, I would not in under any
>circumstance allow it to be viewed freely in the public library if I
>could prevent it. But why?
>
>Henry Dutcher
>Library Director
>Enfield Public Library
>104 Middle Rd.
>Enfield, CT  06082
>860-763-7550
>860-763-7514 fax
>hdutcher at enfield.org

_________________________________________________________________
Fixing up the home? Live Search can help 
http://imagine-windowslive.com/search/kits/default.aspx?kit=improve&locale=en-US&source=hmemailtaglinenov06&FORM=WLMTAG