When young people and common decency play second fiddle to freedom of expression, something is seriously out of tune. The library has become a part of our social network and has gone way beyond its original function of allowing the public to access and check out books.
In order to create a smooth transition from former times, the Berkeley Public Library should reevaluate its services. One of the most pressing issues is that different age groups need different attention. If you keep the children and the young adults out of the adult computer areas, it is safer for everyone and there would be no need for privacy screens.
The library has to realize that not everyone who comes there is an adult. Since IT already blocks adults from using the computers set aside for younger people, it is time to make all cards age specific to the appropriate computers. Also, because self check-out is in place, DVDs need to be going out to appropriate ages by using the movie rating system as a guideline.
If the library refuses to accommodate the different age groups, then they should publically state their policy - “People of all ages must have free access to pornography.” This would inform the public about their commitment to “challenge censorship in the fulfillment of their responsibility to provide information and enlightenment.”
It is time for people to make their opinions known. Please feel free to consider this blog site a forum for presenting your concerns. To add comments to this blog you must provide your real name and e-mail address.
On Oct. 9, 2012 I had an appointment in San Francisco. It was a job interview. They told me that they wanted to see more of me that afternoon, so with three hours on my hands, I decided to make a trip to the San Francisco Public Library. I do not have a smart phone or blackberry device, but needed to check emails, so I asked for a computer reservations at the library. My computer became available and I signed on. I immediately became aware of a man sitting next to me, at a similar computer terminal. He was making odd movements with his body. He was wearing a quilted jacket, and I realized his pants were practically down. I tried as best I could to ignore him, and just read emails. I quickly realized that the man had his coat pulled around himself and by seeing the short movements he was making with a hand hidden inside the coat that he was masturbating. Suffice it to say I got up and left the library. I was much too much in a disgusted state of shock to report it but swore that I would never frequent the computer areas again. It’s disgusting that public libraries could ever allow themselves to be as degraded as this. I won’t even mention the situation in the the downstairs men’s restroom. Areas in this library are as vulgar and foul places as I have been in. I applaud Mr. Lynch for bringing this into the light of day. If First Amendment rights automatically oblige the rest of us to be exposed to the vilest of human behaviors then this must stop!
George
First, let me say that I am a Luddite…my family have dragged me, kicking and screaming, into this electronic world.….so when I retired, I began visiting the three libraries in town, “getting my taxpayer’s dollar’s worth”. By using their Internet access. (look, the machine capitalizes itself). Thank God, I have never seen anyone abusing the use of the many computers, though I move around to the teen area when others are in use, and the clientele includes homeless people, retirees, students, disabled people in care homes, etc. We all greet each other and mind our own business. There are no privacy screens. This is not a private booth in an Internet cafe or a hotel room. This is a public place, and if I choose to use it, I do “private” business…pay bills, write emails, search websites…at my own risk. I do not know what my city’s written policy is about access to adult sites, but I believe the wrath of the Friends of the Library would descend on any wrongdoers.
I believe, further, that the volunteers would be supported. I say this because I know what the restrictions are on salacious material at the schools in our city. In the libraries, computer use is monitored..no emailing, content blockers, and each student’s parent must sign acceptance of the rules. Library aides assign certain computers by number to each student and monitor what is being accessed. In the classroom, no R rated movie may be shown to high school students without parent permission after the teacher gives a written rationale for using the film. Younger children are similarly protected. Any parent may excuse a child from any film, video, or written material that parent disapproves of without prejudice.
I have gone on too long because I am incensed by this issue. I will write at another time about personal tragedies suffered by some of the students in my care because of “freedom” of speech.….