Library Cops?

An interesting response from a librarian in Michigan over
proposed legislation that would require libraries that use
the Internet to have one or more computer terminals that are
\”restricted from receiving obscene matter or sexually
explicit mater that is harmful to minors.\”

\”Does this
mean if the Venus de Milo is shown we throw the person out
of the library?\” pondered Ron Loyd, co-director of the
Northfield Township Library. \”It leaves the librarian as the
library cop.\”

Read the full story at MI Li

An interesting response from a librarian in Michigan over
proposed legislation that would require libraries that use
the Internet to have one or more computer terminals that are
\”restricted from receiving obscene matter or sexually
explicit mater that is harmful to minors.\”

\”Does this
mean if the Venus de Milo is shown we throw the person out
of the library?\” pondered Ron Loyd, co-director of the
Northfield Township Library. \”It leaves the librarian as the
library cop.\”

Read the full story at MI LiLoyd contends that parents, not librarians, have to be the
gatekeepers of the Internet.

But the Brighton lawmaker argues that libraries don\’t stock
their shelves with Playboy or Hustler magazines, and
shouldn\’t give children access to the same kind of material
at a computer screen.


\”This isn\’t a debate about the Harry Potter books. It\’s not
about Shakespeare. It\’s not even about the naked form,\”
Rogers said. \”I\’m only asking libraries to apply the same
standards to the Internet as they would to written
material.\”


Rogers believes his bill is reasonable. He still wants girls
to be able to research breast cancer and boys to be able to
look up information about testicular cancer if they want to.
But he believes there is no place for illegal, violent
pornographic material at the library – either on the shelf
or through

March 12, 2000 by Uncategorized 0

You may also like...

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

LISNews Archives