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Listen, children in public libraries nationwide continue to be raped and molested in libraries that might have been filtered but for the ALA's and in Illinois the ILA's efforts to prevent filtering. Exactly what intellectual and personal freedom are you talking about--the constitutional right to pornography in public libraries guaranteed by a living and breathing Constitution? Right and wrong doesn't matter to you?
Of course right & wrong matter to me, but the right thing is to stop censorship in public libraries... rape and molestation has nothing to do with internet filtering, since the adults would still have access to "adult material" (filtering is only being suggested on children's computers). Not to mention, those sickos aren't going to stop being pervs because you can't find porno on a library computer. I wish it was that simple!
Obviously if we see something happening to a child we'll stop it, as I did just a few weeks ago - so don't lecture me about children's safety, please. Btw, we don't offer blatant pornography on our shelves, but there's no way to control what patrons access through the internet; and as I've said a few times, it's simply not our responsibility. I'm sick of (some) parents not taking charge, and expecting everyone else to do their job for them. Okay, I'm done... sorry Yac.
Jane Schulten, Administrative Librarian |
The Crete Public Library will have all 9 Internet computers shut down. We will be providing information on HB1727 and contact information for state legislators.
Phone: 708 672-8017
12 May 2007 - Crete Public Library District
Lacey Wright |
Barclay Public Library in Warrensburg, IL will be participating in unity day on May 14, 2007 by downloading demonstration filters on computers and passing out flyers to the public. The flyers will explain what filters do to Internet searching and the financial burden that will be placed upon our library if HB1727 passes. A press release has been sent to local media, including three local news stations. At least four other RPLS libraries will be participating with similar demonstrations.
Phone: 217-672-3621
12 May 2007 - Barclay Public Library
Tamiye Meehan |
Indian Trails Public Library now has a page that precedes our home page on the public computers. The page explains our concerns about the filtering bill and lists contact information for local senators and the Senate president. This information is also provided on bookmarks for the public to take away.
We will also have two computer (one on each floor) that have demonstration copies of a filter installed. The message on those computers says that the computer is filtered. If you cannot access the site you seek, please ask to be moved to an unfiltered computer. The last line cites the bill which would filter all public computers in the library.
Phone: 847-459-4100
11 May 2007 - Indian Trails Public Library District
Evidently, not all librarians support the method, means, or spirit of this protest, as evidenced by a negative message on the illinoislibraryday message board, an unflattering review of this story by librarian Greg McClay on his website www.shush.ws/wordpress/ (broken link) and angry comments in response to this story on the library website Lisnews.com.
Denise Varenhorst, President
Family Friendly Libraries
P.S. The incident I dealt with recently (mentioned above) had NOTHING to do with the internet... the person in question simply walked into the library, and well, that's really all I can legally say. But even if the library had been filled only with children's books, and filters were on every computer, it wouldn't have made a difference.
Jane Schulten, Administrative Librarian |
The Crete Public Library will have all 9 Internet computers shut down. We will be providing information on HB1727 and contact information for state legislators.
Phone: 708 672-8017
12 May 2007 - Crete Public Library District
Lacey Wright |
Barclay Public Library in Warrensburg, IL will be participating in unity day on May 14, 2007 by downloading demonstration filters on computers and passing out flyers to the public. The flyers will explain what filters do to Internet searching and the financial burden that will be placed upon our library if HB1727 passes. A press release has been sent to local media, including three local news stations. At least four other RPLS libraries will be participating with similar demonstrations.
Phone: 217-672-3621
12 May 2007 - Barclay Public Library
Tamiye Meehan |
Indian Trails Public Library now has a page that precedes our home page on the public computers. The page explains our concerns about the filtering bill and lists contact information for local senators and the Senate president. This information is also provided on bookmarks for the public to take away.
We will also have two computer (one on each floor) that have demonstration copies of a filter installed. The message on those computers says that the computer is filtered. If you cannot access the site you seek, please ask to be moved to an unfiltered computer. The last line cites the bill which would filter all public computers in the library.
Phone: 847-459-4100
11 May 2007 - Indian Trails Public Library District
Evidently, not all librarians support the method, means, or spirit of this protest, as evidenced by a negative message on the illinoislibraryday message board, an unflattering review of this story by librarian Greg McClay on his website www.shush.ws/wordpress/ (broken link) and angry comments in response to this story on the library website Lisnews.com.
Denise Varenhorst, President
Family Friendly Libraries
All I can say is that we do have the right to protest, as every American does... if you don't like it, why not stage a counter-protest? Or simply stop patronizing that library, and only allow your children (if you have any) to access the internet from home. Boy, would that make my job easier! But in reality, the kids at my library spend 99% of their internet time either playing Runescape, visiting MySpace, emailing friends, or doing homework. I'm at a small branch, so we can see everything they're doing, and most are too embarrassed to visit a "questionable" website anyway - that goes for the adults too.
the ILA's argument that filters do not work: "Filters Don't Work and Provide a False Sense of Security! Study after study has demonstrated that filters consistently block important information on science, health, political, and social issues and regularly allow objectionable material to get through."
That's pure propaganda
I don't know anything about the ILA but I totally agree with their position and their statement.
That you would attempt to filter and restrict the information that gets to me or to anyone - I find to be highly objectionable.
Children deserve to be children, and to be able to learn. They don't deserve to be locked up in prisons with one word after the other spoon fed to them like some kind of medicine.
Quote:
Originally Posted by IDLEFFH
I personally have seen men looking at hardcore pornography in library areas. It's disgusting that this is allowed.
I agree, it shouldn't be there.
What we need are high standards, but not censorship and not filtering.
[T]he right thing is to stop censorship in public libraries.... .... [T]here's no way to control what patrons access through the internet....
Gizmo980, you are wrong again, and you are illustrating why people need to follow the US Supreme Court, not gizmo980's rules or the ILA's similarly false rules. Go reread US v. ALA. The US Supreme Court found filters are not censorship, and that they can be used to control what patrons access through the Internet so as to be more aligned with existing book collection practices.
You may continue to mistaken and to mislead others with your mistaken views, just as the ILA continues to do, but that does not change the law or the facts.
Red Herring Alert: forget the filters and see the real issue, folks.
This is clear and simple lobbying at the expense of taxpayers.
I hope the Illinois Attorney General is taking great interest in one of their government agencies participating in lobbying efforts on the taxpayer's dime.
One's view on internet filters doesn't matter here. A government agency has an obligation to fulfill the duties committed to it as those duties are prescribed at any given time, not as they wish them to be. Government agencies can not pick and choose which rules they are going to follow. They can not pick and choose, at taxpayer expense, which political whim they will support. They are perfectly free to do so in other ways which do not directly affect their offices.
Since when are librarians above the system? Library directors and librarians who wish to exercise free speech and further their political opinions should do so within ethical bounds.
We do often live on a slippery slope and it is feasible one issue can set precedence to ultimately shake our foundation.
If librarians get away with this, who will follow their example and what might it impact next? This is a precedent setting event, folks. Don't be fooled into believing anything else. The question at hand is SHOULD A GOVERNMENT AGENCY BE ALLOWED TO USE TAXPAYER MONEY TO LOBBY A POLITICAL AGENDA? There is no other question to consider. Everything else is sideline ...a red herring.
I suggest politicians IMMEDIATELY make it abundantly clear there will be grim consequences for any library choosing this course of action.
Imagine if we all banded together to act outside the rules each time we disagreed with them. Revolution, anyone?
Red Herring Alert: forget the filters and see the real issue, folks.
This is clear and simple lobbying at the expense of taxpayers.
I hope the Illinois Attorney General is taking great interest in one of their government agencies participating in lobbying efforts on the taxpayer's dime.
One's view on internet filters doesn't matter here. A government agency has an obligation to fulfill the duties committed to it as those duties are prescribed at any given time, not as they wish them to be. Government agencies can not pick and choose which rules they are going to follow. They can not pick and choose, at taxpayer expense, which political whim they will support. They are perfectly free to do so in other ways which do not directly affect their offices.
Since when are librarians above the system? Library directors and librarians who wish to exercise free speech and further their political opinions should do so within ethical bounds.
We do often live on a slippery slope and it is feasible one issue can set precedence to ultimately shake our foundation.
If librarians get away with this, who will follow their example and what might it impact next? This is a precedent setting event, folks. Don't be fooled into believing anything else. The question at hand is SHOULD A GOVERNMENT AGENCY BE ALLOWED TO USE TAXPAYER MONEY TO LOBBY A POLITICAL AGENDA? There is no other question to consider. Everything else is sideline ...a red herring.
I suggest politicians IMMEDIATELY make it abundantly clear there will be grim consequences for any library choosing this course of action.
Imagine if we all banded together to act outside the rules each time we disagreed with them. Revolution, anyone?
Simple answer - YES, we do have the right! We're still citizens of this country, whether we work for a government agency or not, and therefore have the right to protest. And this isn't a case of "political agenda", it's an issue that directly affects libraries and the general public... if there was an issue on the table that affected YOUR job and/or life, wouldn't you want to defend your position? I'm not saying I agree with the idea of this particular protest, but we're not slaves or indentured servants, and cannot be silenced on this topic.
Would you rather we all quit in protest, or stopped showing up to work? Many people don't realize this, but it takes 6 years of college (undergrad & grad school) to become a librarian, so you'd be without libraries for quite a while. Sorry, but we're going to do what is right, and if it inconveniences you for a day or two, isn't that worth keeping civil and personal liberties? You mentioned the "slippery slope" theory, and that goes both ways... once they start with internet filtering, censorship is next, and then YOU will be the one protesting - I guarantee it. We are here to serve the public, and this is a matter of public concern and freedom.
Gizmo980, you are wrong again, and you are illustrating why people need to follow the US Supreme Court, not gizmo980's rules or the ILA's similarly false rules. Go reread US v. ALA. The US Supreme Court found filters are not censorship, and that they can be used to control what patrons access through the Internet so as to be more aligned with existing book collection practices.
You may continue to mistaken and to mislead others with your mistaken views, just as the ILA continues to do, but that does not change the law or the facts.
Fine... go ahead and keep thinking I'm wrong, despite my years of study and REAL LIFE experience with the topic. If you think you know more, just because you've read some court cases online, that's fine with me. But don't come crying to me when your freedoms are taken, and you can no longer check out what you choose at the library. And yes, internet filtering IS censorship, no matter how you rationalize it... how could it not be considered censorship, when they're trying to control access to the public?
P.S. As I've said before, just because the Supreme Court makes a decision, that doesn't mean everyone considers it fair or just. Ask any anti-abortionist how they feel about Roe vs. Wade, and you'll see what I mean.
SHOULD A GOVERNMENT AGENCY BE ALLOWED TO USE TAXPAYER MONEY TO LOBBY A POLITICAL AGENDA?
Why all the yelling. Point can't stand on it's own merits with that, and your first post in the forum.
Yea well if you want me to be in favor of this - then it has to be ME me me me me me me me who gets to do all the filtering. (I'll start with this thread)
Hmm who employs Bush then if he doesn't work for the government, yet he lobbies Congress and makes threats to them all the time. What's good for the goose is good for the gander. If the President doesn't set the precedent for everyone else then who does? And who does Bush really work for then if not us?
Who are you going to filter then - those who disagree with you? Oh no but I'm the one who gets to do the filtering right? But would you vote for me me me me ME to be the one who does the filtering? Let's clear this up first and then I'll let you know how I am voting on this issue.
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Btw, we don't offer blatant pornography on our shelves, but there's no way to control what patrons access through the internet; and as I've said a few times, it's simply not our responsibility. I'm sick of (some) parents not taking charge, and expecting everyone else to do their job for them. Okay, I'm done... sorry Yac. 
Library Internet Shutdown Growing
children or robots
