tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5060593324936581367.post829569394357578837..comments2024-03-28T14:15:25.583-04:00Comments on SafeLibraries®: Banned From All Libraries on Earth for Masturbating in Racine Public Library That Allows Unfiltered Internet Access; Law School Exam Question on First Amendment and Criminal Law in Public LibrariesSafeLibraries®http://www.blogger.com/profile/06756725065032196698noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5060593324936581367.post-84240990289523791602015-12-26T08:02:31.969-05:002015-12-26T08:02:31.969-05:00That man had a huge cawk that could not be control...That man had a huge cawk that could not be controlled, therefore he is not responsible for his actions.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5060593324936581367.post-85235701875789749122013-03-28T23:55:33.227-04:002013-03-28T23:55:33.227-04:00Thanks, Anonymous. Your report is enlightening, b...Thanks, Anonymous. Your report is enlightening, but it goes against the library's own policy statements that specify some of its computers are "unfiltered Internet workstations." It also goes against the library having a history of controversy related to unfiltered computers and the library following ALA diktat that libraries are in no position to decide what is or is not child pornography and the like.<br /><br />It is possible the library's online policy regarding "unfiltered Internet workstations" and ALA diktat is outdated. Please ask the library if its policies are outdated, pointing out this conversation so there are no surprises, then let us know how the library responded. It will either 1) not change its policy, thereby confirming it has "unfiltered Internet workstations" and follows ALA diktat, or 2) change its policy. Of course any policy change would not happen immediately, but tell us of what response you did get.<br /><br />By the way, what is the procedure to drop the filters to view any desired site?<br /><br />Thanks.SafeLibraries®https://www.blogger.com/profile/06756725065032196698noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5060593324936581367.post-23198872407380073802013-03-26T15:06:05.135-04:002013-03-26T15:06:05.135-04:00I have made a personal visit. Porn is blocked. N...I have made a personal visit. Porn is blocked. Not just child porn, all porn. All computers are filtered. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5060593324936581367.post-4284267640975629232013-03-19T19:38:34.558-04:002013-03-19T19:38:34.558-04:00[... Comment continues here:]
Furthermore, policy...[... Comment continues here:]<br /><br />Furthermore, policy I have linked in the post says:<br /><br />Although users using Internet workstations in the Adult Services Department are free to access any site with content that is protected under the free speech provisions of the Constitution, it is unacceptable to use the Library’s Internet equipment to send, receive, or display text or graphics which may reasonably be construed as obscene by community standards. The determination that content of a web site is “obscene by community standards” is not made by the Library staff or the Racine Public Library Board of Trustees. That determination is made through legislation and interpreted by the courts.<br /><br />That tells me the library allows porn but not child porn, and that it will not decide whether or not something is porn or child porn or not. Indeed, the American Library Association advises libraries that librarians are not police officers and are in no position to decide what is or is not child porn. Here's the exact quote: "<a href="http://www.ala.org/template.cfm?section=otherpolicies&template=/contentmanagement/contentdisplay.cfm&contentid=13098" rel="nofollow">As for obscenity and child pornography, prosecutors and police have adequate tools to enforce criminal laws. Libraries are not a component of law enforcement efforts</a>...."<br /><br />It appears the library's policy talks a good game but allows anything but child porn, precisely as the ALA directs, and that the library is answerable to the ALA, not to local citizens. In my legal hypothetical, such allegiance to the ALA in defiance of the public trust may be of concern. By the way, some libraries even allow child porn, like in Holyoke, MA, and others, following ALA policy to destroy records and delay police investigations, make it almost impossible to stop crime.<br /><br />And, it violates the US Supreme Court on the issue as the Court says filtering porn in public libraries violates no one's First Amendment rights. So the Racine library is misleading its patrons, let alone everything else going on.<br /><br />Anonymous, please try to dig up more information about the actual practices of the library, not just its written policy with its poorly written and contradictory language that simply regurgitates ALA policy. Hopefully you can make a personal visit; I can't. I'm still getting hundreds of views a day so I want to be as informational as possible. I've proven the policy references unfiltered computers despite saying all are filtered, so that's solved, but I'd still like to hear about your personal visit, if possible, even if you were mistaken on the filtering policy issue.<br /><br />Thanks.SafeLibraries®https://www.blogger.com/profile/06756725065032196698noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5060593324936581367.post-34760689738963751942013-03-19T19:38:08.427-04:002013-03-19T19:38:08.427-04:00Library policy says, "It is assumed that chil...Library policy says, "<a href="http://www.racinelibrary.info/wordpress/?page_id=55" rel="nofollow">It is assumed that children and young adults from age eight through seventeen who are unattended in the Library have parental permission to use all Library resources, including the unfiltered Internet workstations</a>."<br /><br />I think, based on that, I can safely conclude, we can all safely conclude, the library has the "unfiltered Internet workstations" it claims it has. And, based on that, I can safely say what you quoted, namely, "Websites categorized as pornography are being filtered at all Internet workstations," is inconsistent at a minimum.<br /><br />It is safe to conclude the library has unfiltered computers just as it claims.<br /><br />Like in advertising, unclear language is to be construed against the people writing the language. The policy says the children's computers are filtered and if the children use the adult computers, then the adults must supervise. Further, the policy says, "The Racine Public Library Board of Trustees is concerned that patrons should not be inadvertently exposed to materials and images that they may find personally unsuitable. To reduce the possibility of this occurring, the Library provides privacy screens for the Internet workstations." Not filters, but privacy screens. Privacy screens are useless, which, fortunately, the library acknowledges: "While these screens provide reasonable privacy for text, such as credit card numbers, users should be aware that these screens do not completely block images from all angles."<br /><br />I see that sentence you cited. It simply does not fit in with the rest of the picture and surrounding facts. Further, I am aware libraries might claim to filter in policies, then allow patrons to choose unfiltered access with the click of a button, thereby effectively eliminating the use of any filtering whatsoever. Some, like the Brooklyn Public Library in NY, have a written policy that differs from the policy in practice, and does so intentionally to commit E-Rate fraud. Millions worth, in Brooklyn's case. Well, in the Racine case, the library policy specifies the unfiltered computers, so really that solves that.<br /><br />So tell me, if you are a patron of that library, how does one get unfiltered access. With the swipe of a card? By clicking a button? By asking a librarian? By submitting a request form? By going to the unfiltered computers named in the policy? Going to a special room? Computers turned away from where people might see? Computers in carrels? Behind privacy screens? And do you know where any of that is documented? How do you ask for filters, if any, to be dropped? It appears to get unfiltered access you simply use the unfiltered computers.<br /><br />[Continued next comment...]SafeLibraries®https://www.blogger.com/profile/06756725065032196698noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5060593324936581367.post-9375179306352375012013-03-19T12:31:31.969-04:002013-03-19T12:31:31.969-04:00correction on the url. It's www.racinelibrary...correction on the url. It's www.racinelibrary.info/rules.htmAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5060593324936581367.post-50607252664694520982013-03-19T12:30:15.601-04:002013-03-19T12:30:15.601-04:00This is the updated policy as of 2011. It began i...This is the updated policy as of 2011. It began in 2009 and the rules had been updated in 2011. www.racinelibrary.inf/rules.htm. Notice paragraph 5 - Websites categorized as pornography are being filtered at all Internet workstations. Again, no filtering software is perfect. Some content in this category may pass and filtering can block appropriate sites from view. Websites may be brought to the Library’s attention; however, staff will not review sites if viewing the content would violate the City’s Anti-Harassment Policy.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5060593324936581367.post-3102499655891522532013-03-18T16:05:13.416-04:002013-03-18T16:05:13.416-04:00Thanks, Anonymous, for commenting. The online pol...Thanks, Anonymous, for commenting. The online policies do not support your observation. Further, the library is not receiving federal funding for having filtered computers as required for such funding. In addition, the library has a history of porn viewing incidents.<br /><br />That said, if you can provide hard evidence that the library is fully filtered, and that it has been for three years, please provide that information here as this post is getting hundreds of views worldwide and I aim to inform my readers with the best information.SafeLibraries®https://www.blogger.com/profile/06756725065032196698noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5060593324936581367.post-77684746184016961952013-03-18T15:42:00.322-04:002013-03-18T15:42:00.322-04:00The Racine Public Library Internet access is filte...The Racine Public Library Internet access is filtered and has been for about 3 years now.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com