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

[lynne ingersoll]

Hmmmmmmm....!?

 

Lynne S. Ingersoll

Lynne S. Ingersoll

Reference Services Manager

Blue Island Public Library

2433 York St.

Blue Island, IL 60406

(708) 388-1078 x20

(708) 388-9301 Fax

 

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From: publib-bounces at webjunction.org [mailto:publib-bounces at webjunction.org]
On Behalf Of Cordelia Swanson
Sent: Friday, December 01, 2006 1:20 PM
To: publib at webjunction.org
Subject: RE: [Publib] Librarians required to provide access to porn?
wasWIRED...

 

Could there be a link between these two running threads we have been
discussing?

 

Free porn available on computers at the library 

AND

Increased computer usage at most libraries

 

Aren't we always looking for ways to increase our stats? Is this a niche
audience in our community that has been previously under served by library
services? Congrats to us for creating a place where we can serve those who
want to view pornography in a public setting. Let's call them PIPs
(Pornographers in Public).

 

Maybe we should increase services to this community? Create adults only
viewing rooms. What kind of programs could we invent to serve PIP
entertainment needs? Erotic dance appreciation classes? It seems like many
library professionals consider PIPs to have protected rights but they don't
want to celebrate having them as patrons. Isn't that shameful? How
puritanical and judgmental of us. (I've learned from previous posts that we
should abandon judgment when it comes to selecting items and services for
our libraries. We should trust the judgment of each patron who requests
items or services from the library.)

 

How will our community be enriched and enlightened (aren't these words
pre-requisites for library mission statements) by embracing PIPs and
offering services to them? These PIPs need a place to meet and why not use
government funds to make it possible? They have met so much opposition for
their need to view graphic images in public. Poor PIPs.

 

I ask of our library community, what kind of fruit are we expecting to grow
from these pips? If purposefully displaying a naked image on a computer
screen isn't illegal then why would exposing yourself be illegal or
committing a lewd (doesn't that sound judgmental?) act? That would be
restricting that person's freedom of expression, wouldn't it? Who cares if a
young child standing or sitting nearby sees? Some libraries laughably try to
protect children by putting up privacy screens. These are just about as
effective as internet filters at blocking everything. Children will see all
of these things eventually. We've all grown accustomed to it. 

 

 

P.S. I have a great new bumper sticker idea: 

PIPs DO IT AT THE PUBLIC LIBRARY! (Available at any public library)

  

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