[Publib] Re: My Space and U Tube

[Robert L. Balliot]

Greetings Angela, 

 

Could you be more specific about reason number three?  I think

that the idea of a 'gang' and  the idea of 'gang activities' can certainly 

trigger a emotional response.  My first thoughts are of the media

portrayals of young people who live in dangerous environments.

Then I think of the Jets and the Sharks squaring off in West Side
<http://www.filmsite.org/wests.html> 

Story <http://www.filmsite.org/wests.html> .

 

But, what do those terms really mean?  If a 'gang
<http://wordnet.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=gang> ' is defined as an 

'association of criminals'  Rhode Island has had gangs and 

gang activity for many, many years.  If we used that definition

to limit use, according to some of the most recent RICO
<http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/18/pIch96.html>   prosecutions 

a governor,
<http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9B04E3D71330F931A15757C0A967
9C8B63&sec=travel>  multiple mayors, judges,  a multitude of legislators, 

and
<http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9B04E3D71330F931A15757C0A967
9C8B63&sec=travel>  many, many appointed public officials and contractors
would

be prohibited. 

 

Where would we be if we said to this powerful crowd that they 

cannot use the library to communicate based on criminal

association?  How would we be able to get funding?  In such

a small state with only 2 degrees of separation, where would

criminal association end and a qualified library user begin?

Would communication between legislators be prohibited?

What about family members communicating with their relatives?

 

If the definition for gang is more strictly defined as a group of

youths who live in a dangerous environment, then the prohibition

would simply be age discrimination and, in my opinion, an

invalid reason to ban use. 

 

*************************************************

Robert L. Balliot

1-401-441-5763

Skype: RBalliot

Bristol, Rhode Island

http://oceanstatelibrarian.com/contact.htm

*************************************************

  _____  

From: publib-bounces at webjunction.org [mailto:publib-bounces at webjunction.org]
On Behalf Of Angela Williams
Sent: Saturday, September 01, 2007 9:35 AM
To: publib at webjunction.org
Subject: [Publib] Re: My Space and U Tube

 

The Greenville (SC) Public library just recently banned all social
networking sites like My Space and Facebook. We did this for 3 reasons:

 

1.  patrons complaints about what is being viewed

 

2. repeated violations of the Library Code of Conduct

 

3. Gangs are using these sites to coordinate activity.

 

I sure our library isn't the only one having these problems with My Space,
etc. How have you dealt with these issues? 

 

Angela Williams

Library Assistant III

Greenville County Library System

Greenville, SC

awilliams at greenvillelibrary.org

 



 



Angela Williams
spartangirl68 at yahoo.com

  

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