Sigh. Yes. We regularly have lines of twenty people or more to use our computers (which we do have a lot of.) We had thirty thousand men, women, and children do a summer reading program this summer. You are cheating yourself by not using your local library - you might be surprised what it has to offer, like expensive databases you wouldn’t want to buy yourself.
Well, I suppose the difference is that the last time I went to a public library, they didn’t offer computers and/or internet access. And no, I’m not in the market for any expensive databases?
You sure? Morningstar? Ancestry? The local newspaper archives?
Of course it’s only 5 bucks–what high-class hooker would ever be caught dead turning tricks in a Dewey Decimal System stack? Really.
The expensive ones all use Library of C collections…in the X480s, to be specific. (And that’s why Professor So-and-So spends so much time there, in case you were wondering.)
No!
Convince all porn sites to move to an .xxx address. What’s porn? You figure it out, offensive posts get reported like on the 'dope. If this blocks you from seeing ‘David’, the problem is that you suck, not the system.
That doesn’t work? Get rid of the computers then. And get rid of the 940 section too. Ahmajinedad for president!
[/sarcasm]
Off-topic, but there was an episode of Loveline one time where a woman who called in was a phone sex worker who was bragging about her ability to make anything sound sexy. Adam Carolla was trying to get her to demonstrate how she would talk dirty to a client about the Holocaust. She, of course, had never heard of it.
We’ve had this debate a few times in GD. The arguments against public libraries usually boil down to “I’m rich, why should I buy books for poor people?” If you’ve got a real argument, I’d love to hear it.
As for filtering software, I was against it when my library first installed it (and I’m still against it in principal), but I can’t say I’ve noticed too many non-porn sites being blocked. And it’s made working the reference desk a lot easier. Knowing that little Billy is an ass-man was just too much for me.
I vote no. I think that the purpose of libraries are for productive use. What happens when the unemployed family man comes in to update his resume, but no computers are available because three skeeves are spanking it to the latest porn site. Hell, why not open a bar and have a couple of slot machines there since we are opening it up…you aren’t a member of the Temperance movement are you?
You understand that a library can prohibit public masturbation without employing content filters on their computers, right? As to the unemployed family man, that’s why most libraries have time limits and waiting lists. If he has to wait his turn to post his resume anyway, what difference does it make what other users are doing with their turns?
FTR, I don’t have a huge problem with filters as long as unfiltered computers are also readily available.
No problems with porn, no problems with public porn. I say go for it. Maybe this will bring in some revenue
I go every two weeks, about. I pick up new books to read - usually anywhere from 4 to 10. I’m 33 years old. Plus, my library does have computers and it has archives of tons of things - and if it doesn’t, it’s just a branch library and the main library will have it. I on’t get people who don’t go to their library at all! There’s so much there.
As to the OP, I don’t really like the idea of porn in the libraries. I kind of think that stuff is for home private viewing. But I really like those opaque filters UncleNito references. Now if only libraries had that kind of money! Mine might; but I don’t know if they’d be willing to even consider it and since I have a home computer, I’ve got no dog in this fight.
Needs to be limits on computer usage, and yes, no spanking it in public. It could work in our library, though - the children’s and teen rooms are way on the other side of the library from the computers, and they themselves are in a quiet little nook - all together, but in the reference section, and not with the regular fiction.
This is not what I care about in libraries anyway. I am more concerned about making people be QUIET in the libraries like they used to be. I don’t mean kids, I like to see kids in the libraries, I mean adults! SHUT UP!
I haven’t had reason to use public libraries a lot in recent years, but every time I have been in one, it’s been packed.
ETA: I used to use them a tremendous amount until my mid-twenties, so now I support them financially through donations, even though I don’t use them as much any more.
You have to be very careful. The right wingers will want to be in charge of identifying what is porn. They will change" Moby Dick" to “Moby Richard.” they will have book burning parties. A library that only has 20,000 copies of the bible would not be very busy.
I noticed in the report that those who protested against censorship did so out of a desire to protect their freedom of speech,their rights being eroded under the first amendment or whatever,American freedom, and no doubt because they wanted to help little old ladies across the street and bring about world peace…
Well thats a relief,I thought for one moment it might be because they habitually beat their meat.
You have to do your homework. Aside from Censorin’ Sarah Palin, “right wingers” usually leave the public library alone. Censrship challenges almost always come from busybodies and bigots, and those titles have no party affiliation.
Of course libraries shouldn’t filter access. Public libraries are creatures of the state. The state should not be deciding which ideas are appropriate for its citizens to access. Q.E.D.
–Cliffy
Cliffy it’s not so much a matter of deciding what is appropriate for citizens to view as it is a question of deciding how best to use the library’s resources to the benefit of its patrons. Computers in public libraries are generally located in full view of other patrons. If money is spent on special screens, viewing areas, etc. to facilitate the viewing of explicit material then there will be less money to spend on other library programs.
Odesio
Of course “The State” shouldn’t decide which ideas are appropriate for its citizens to access.
If someone wishes to access improvised explosive device making,
( or how to make a nuclear device for that matter)
,how to use poisons for murder, or wants to look at paedophile pornography then its their choice.
Otherwise their human rights are being violated.
And who the hell put "The State"in charge anyway.
Well I must go now,I have to pick my welfare check up and go back home to my mums basement.
I agree with your theory, but does it really apply to porn? It doesn’t seem like much of an ‘idea’ to me- ?did you know?!? Women have tits! C’mon, there is research into ideas, and then there are peep shows. The state isn’t preventing citizen access to porn, it just isn’t serving it up.
In ours there are tons of parents who take out 10 picture books at a time for their kids. (I’m always behind them at checkout.) The parking lot of all our libraries are always full on weekends.
For me, though I have enough unread books to last me my life, there are plenty of books I don’t collect I’d like to read for free.
As for the OP, of course not, but rules should be set up to respect the rights of those who don’t want to be exposed to it.