[Publib] Dealing with pornographic materials

[Fred Beisser]

Well stated. Sandy. I hope each or our libraries take a closer look at 
how to deal with this kind of situation.

Fred

Nozick, Sandy wrote:

>The news account said: "When police did get involved, they found thousands of images of child pornography. 39-year-old Donnie Chrisler was arrested"
> 
>This says to me that the library employee knew what she saw and it *was* child pornography.  It's not easy to "accidentally" come across child pornography.  I would like to see more support for a library employee who knew what she was doing and a little less benefit of the doubt to the guy arrested.
> 
>When I see a patron looking at something questionable or someone has complained to me, I remind the patron he's not in his own living room and invite him to find another webpage; when a patron looks at child pornography, I have gone straight to the phone to call police.  Patrons don't stick around while you go find a supervisor.  Possession of child porn is a crime you don't get to wipe away with a scolding and a note on his library card. This supervisor was just plain wrong. 
> 
>Neither was the Tulare employee acting as a private citizen, but a library employee dedicated to creating a safe atmosphere for her patrons.  We call the police for vandalism, underage sex, turning tricks in the children's restroom and there's nothing private citizen about those calls either.  
> 
>From my experience, too many female administrators are so worried about the welcoming hostess image and, God-forbid, offending someone, that their front-line staff puts up with ugly workplace behavior on a regular basis. 
> 
>Sandy Nozick, Reference Librarian
> 
> 
> 
>-----Original Message----- 
>From: publib-bounces at webjunction.org on behalf of Forman, Robert, DCA 
>Sent: Fri 3/14/2008 12:59 PM 
>To: Publib at webjunction.org 
>Cc: 
>Subject: RE: [Publib] Dealing with pornographic materials 
>
>
>
>	I saw that news piece. Was it child pornography or just your plain old
>	garden variety of pornography? It makes a difference, since as you point
>	out child pornography is illegal. Of course any kind of obscenity is
>	illegal. No question the guy is a creep, but how did the person who
>	called the police (and was subsequently fired) know that he didn't
>	accidentally come across the porno. Doubtful to be sure, but it's
>	possible, but you still give someone the benefit of the doubt: tell him
>	to cut it out or else he'll be asked to leave, privileges will be
>	revoked, etc. Calling the police was over and above what was necessary.
>	Plus the individual deliberately ignored the instructions of her
>	supervisor. She was on the job, but took on the role of private citizen.
>	She lost her sense of professionalism and role as an employee. Based on
>	this information, it seems to me that some type of discipline was in
>	order. I don't know that they had to fire her. Maybe she'll get her job
>	back.
>	
>	I'm just tossing this out here for the sake of discussion. It's an
>	interesting story.
>	
>	Robert Forman
>	New Mexico State Library
>	
>	
>	
>	-----Original Message-----
>	From: publib-bounces at webjunction.org
>	[mailto:publib-bounces at webjunction.org] On Behalf Of Kopesky, Sara
>	Sent: Friday, March 14, 2008 1:42 PM
>	To: Publib at webjunction.org
>	Subject: RE: [Publib] Dealing with pornographic materials
>	
>	Wow.
>	
>	Is her library unaware that viewing or owning Child Pornography is a
>	crime? In my mind, that's similar to the librarian getting fired for
>	calling the police if she saw someone stabbing another person in the
>	library. Because it happens in the library it's the personal, private
>	business of the guy committing an assault?!  Give me a break. I'm
>	interested to see what comes of this.
>	
>	(personal opinion)
>	~sara  k
>	
>	 
>	-----Original Message-----
>	From: publib-bounces at webjunction.org
>	[mailto:publib-bounces at webjunction.org] On Behalf Of Fred Beisser
>	Sent: Friday, March 14, 2008 1:33 PM
>	To: publib at webjunction.org
>	Subject: [Publib] Dealing with pornographic materials
>	
>	Link below is a report from Fresno, California, about a librarian who
>	was fired after reporting a patron viewing child pornography.
>	
>	
>	http://www.breitbart.tv/?p=62234
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