Readings Journal 3/20

Sex in the City: What happened to the Minneapolis Public Library by Wendy Adamson

This article discusses the many problems MPL had with patrons accessing porn and other sexual images and how they handled the situation.

What caught my attention most in this article is how the administration repeatedly ignored concerns from the staff about the problem.  Because the administration was so caught up in the idea that the Minneapolis Public library “supported unfettered access to information,” they didn’t realize how many patrons they were losing and what these images were doing to their library and their staff.  I used to live in Minneapolis, and I have been to this library on many occasions (after this problem was solved).  The library is very large and spread out, so I can easily understand how it would be difficult to keep track of people abusing the Internet.  The article mentioned how patrons looking at these images would often just move to a different department after being asked to leave.  With the size of the MPL, I can easily understand how this could happen.

One Law with Two Outcomes: Comparing the Implementation of CIPA in Public Libraries and Schools by Paul Jaeger and Zheng Yan

This paper explores the implications of CIPA and it’s effects on public schools and public libraries.

The main thing that I find disturbing about CIPA is that it clumps schools and public libraries together and applies the same rules to each.  Schools and public libraries serve different populations, and, as such should not be clumped together.  Schools serve only children, however, public libraries serve adults as well as children.  So, if a library complies to CIPA, the adults lose access to internet privileges just because children also use the library.  This doesn’t seem fair to anyone.  Some people who use the library’s Internet don’t have access anywhere else.  What if a site they really need to access is blocked?

Studying Indiana Usage of Internet Filters by Alberta Comer

This article looks at how Indiana Public libraries deal with Internet filtering.

Internet filtering is obviously just as important in Indiana libraries as anywhere else, this is clear in this article and in the PubLib Listserv.  On February 13, the Worthington Jefferson Township Public Library asked the Listserv to recommend good Internet filters. This article also implied that it may be easier to avoid filtering in small libraries.  Librarians from small library’s were less likely to filter and said they could watch the computer screens to make sure nobody was abusing them.  However, this is not an option in a large library where there is no way to have a staff member monitor every computer screen.  Looking back at the article about Minneapolis, this makes sense.  Since it was a larger library it was harder to keep track of what patrons were using the computers for.  This article also made me wonder why libraries would block people from using their email.  As I mentioned previously, what if these people can’t access the Internet anywhere else?  How will they use email?

Public Access Technologies in Public Libraries: Effects and Implications by John Bertot

This article discusses Public Access Technologies (PAT) and their effects on public libraries.

This article mentions that users want a customized experience while using technology.  I have noticed this while working in libraries in the past.  Patrons don’t seem to understand that library computers are not their own personal computers and they can’t download things on them or use them however they want.  It surprises me how many times I have had to explain this to a patron.  As this article mentions, it is often the patron, not the technology that is the problem.

“Please Disable the Entire Filter”: Why Non-Removable Filters on Public Library Computers Violate the First Amendment by Todd Anten

This article discusses why the Pheonix Public Libraries’ non-removable filters are unconstitutional.

“Public libraries are in a ‘damned if you do, damned if you don’t’ situation.” (p. 77) This quote from Anten’s article sums up all of the readings for today.  Libraries can’t seem to win.  Of course libraries want to be able to provide users with full access to materials and filtering can reduce this access.  However, libraries also can’t afford to become like Minneapolis where sexual harassment is common and causes patrons and staff to be uncomfortable.  There seems to be no good way to solve this problem, no matter what libraries do, someone will be angry.