Spring Break
Library pornography spurs concern
San Jose councilman argues for filtered computer use at SJSU
Jesse Kimbrel
Issue date: 2/6/08 Section: News
Constant said he wanted students to have full, unfiltered Internet access once they enter their student identification number.
"This isn't about censorship," Constant said.
He said he wanted to make libraries "warm and welcoming" so that people are comfortable while they are at the library.
SJSU student Jasso added that students should have a say in what the city can regulate in regards to the library Internet filters.
Lorraine Oback, marketing communications director at the King library, said students can attend a meeting with the library commission Feb. 13 at the King Library.
At the meeting, members of the public may speak in front of the commission to voice their thoughts on councilman Constant's Proposal.
Oback also said that people may give feedback regarding the Internet filtering proposal on the San Jose Library's Web site.
A memo from King Library Director Jane Light to the Rules and Open Government Committee stated that under the Library's current Internet access policy, any verbal complaint received by the library staff is dealt with immediately.
Light's memo also showed a statistical breakdown of how many arrests have been committed in the 2006-07 fiscal year at the King Library.
Out of more than 2.5 million visitors annually, 11 written complaints were reported about pornography on computers. Sixteen police arrests were made related to sex crimes, and 12 of those crimes were committed at a King Library computer, or about one each month.
Constant said his proposal isn't set in stone, he just believes something needs to be done. He said his proposal might not go to council for a vote until late this summer.
"This isn't about censorship," Constant said.
He said he wanted to make libraries "warm and welcoming" so that people are comfortable while they are at the library.
SJSU student Jasso added that students should have a say in what the city can regulate in regards to the library Internet filters.
Lorraine Oback, marketing communications director at the King library, said students can attend a meeting with the library commission Feb. 13 at the King Library.
At the meeting, members of the public may speak in front of the commission to voice their thoughts on councilman Constant's Proposal.
Oback also said that people may give feedback regarding the Internet filtering proposal on the San Jose Library's Web site.
A memo from King Library Director Jane Light to the Rules and Open Government Committee stated that under the Library's current Internet access policy, any verbal complaint received by the library staff is dealt with immediately.
Light's memo also showed a statistical breakdown of how many arrests have been committed in the 2006-07 fiscal year at the King Library.
Out of more than 2.5 million visitors annually, 11 written complaints were reported about pornography on computers. Sixteen police arrests were made related to sex crimes, and 12 of those crimes were committed at a King Library computer, or about one each month.
Constant said his proposal isn't set in stone, he just believes something needs to be done. He said his proposal might not go to council for a vote until late this summer.
Viewing Comments 1 - 4 of 6
Garret
posted 2/06/08 @ 8:23 AM PST
Is it just me, or is it preposterous to allow people to view porn at a public library? I thought a library is suppose to be an institution of learning. (Continued…)
Annd
posted 2/06/08 @ 12:49 PM PST
No it's not just you. I agree with you. Although porn itself doesn't bother me, it bothers me for it to be in a public place. Almost everytime I go there I see someone looking at porn (just walking by trying to find a seat!). (Continued…)
Luke Appleton
posted 2/07/08 @ 11:22 PM PST
All this fuss about people watching porn. Is that why most of the screens have tinted covers over them now?
I was wondering what that was about.
I was starting to get sick of people using social networking sites to slut themselves but at least they stopped shouting to each other across the rows about it. (Continued…)
Garret
posted 2/08/08 @ 9:19 AM PST
Nobody has a problem with people social networking in the library; it is the viewing of porn on public-funded library computers that disturbs us. It's plain and simple: for as long as taxpayers pay for these computers, filter them. (Continued…)
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