Fang-Face writes “There is an article posted to commondreams.org which is another look at the impact of USAPA on libraries. I mention it mostly because it tends to center around the tired old stereotype; as you can see from the title about “shushing”. Still, it’s not a badly done piece. Best quote:
“We’re socialized to throw our bodies over library records,” she said. “I can’t tell you the amount of time I have spent with my staff going over: ‘If someone is taking out a book on hemorrhoids, you don’t say Preparation H worked for me.’ If someone is taking out a book on divorce, you don’t gossip about that. It’s really a very sacred part of our professional training.”
–Barbara Powell, director of the Concord Free Public Library, Concord, Mass.
And in defense of USAPA:
“I mean, you can subpoena my bank records, my medical records, my telephone records. It’s done every day in America by the thousands, every day,” Sessions said. “To say you can’t subpoena whether you’ve checked out a book on bomb-making from the library to me is breathtaking in its lack of understanding of the way the criminal justice system works.”
–Alabama Sen. Jeff Sessions, Republican
And finally:
“I’m about as mainstream, middle of the road as it gets. I mean, look at me – I’m not fringe. But we’re not just sweet Marian the Librarian. We do have a backbone and we are willing to take a stand.”
–“Anthony”, head librarian, Skokie
. . . in challenge to the stereotype.“
Wrong tree….again
Here Fang. An exclusive from a “real� library director re the impact of the PA on his library.
NADA
ZILCH
NEIN
GOOSE EGG
ZERO
NIL
NAUGHT
NONE
Now for a real issue. Would you care to hear my story about the impact of our resident “porn posse� upon college women forced to share sticky mice and cup their hands over their eyes when using our workstations?
Re:Wrong tree….again
As if we could trust you to blow the whistle on your leash holder.
By the way, a fellow the name of Russ Kirk, who keeps the Memory Hole web site, has a hard copy book out about fifty things the government won’t let people know. In it, he alleges that the Library of Congress has a collection of pornography. You might want to look into that.
As for the sticky mice, call the cops, have them send someone over to take samples for chemical analysis and DNA testing. Then, you can give them your entire list of patron names. Make sure you give them them the whole list though, so it doesn’t look as if you are discriminately singling out any particular type of suspect. With the list, the cops will be able to go around and collect DNA samples, cross-reference those with what they get off the mice, and bust the perps for . . . well, whatever thought crime you can come up with, I’m sure.
I wouldn’t have to tell you this if you watched CSI.
Of course, you could just unplug the computers from the network. I don’t know why you people spend so much time bitching about what’s on the internet when you can disconnect from it. It’s not hard. Even I can do it. If you’ve got a high speed wired connection, the jack is just like the ones used for telephones, except the cable is round and coated with light blue plastic. I’m sure you COULD find it. If you LOOKED for it.
Re:Wrong tree….again
By the way, a fellow the name of Russ Kirk, who keeps the Memory Hole web site, has a hard copy book out about fifty things the government won’t let people know. In it, he alleges that the Library of Congress has a collection of pornography. You might want to look into that.
I just read the titles Fang.
Censoring grey literature.
Our cities’ public library reference desk departments need to do more about censoring grey literature, public records of their very own departments.
Re:Wrong tree….again
The issue of resource abuse is real, and it sounds like you have some of the same creeps we have (one of whom was led off in cuffs the other night).
Cops making secret subpoenas is another real abuse, I’d say to American values and the Constitution. We fought in several wars, even started a couple, in part to stop this kind of facist behavior.
No American should mind a US law/act coming under review; it’s entirely our perogative and right. When any law impinges on our essential rights, it deserves review, whether or not it exhibits immediate consequences to library directors.
In these cases, we can’t wait for the canary to die.
Re:Wrong tree….again
So you are a REAL library director, eh? Gee, what library?
Is the contempt that you demonstrate here an indication of your management style?