Playboy at the library

[Kristine Buchanan]

 The Tarlton Law Library at the University of Texas has a litigated 
literature section including the works of Mapplethorpe, Anais Nin, 
Playboy and other published literature such as 2 Live Crus "Nasty as You 
want to be" CD.



On Mon, 30 Jun 1997, Hetherington Information Services wrote:

> Sorry Ronnie but your ending points are illogical.
> 
> >Even if local laws allow it, no adult bookstore is going to allow a child
> >to walk into thier store.  
> 
> Barnes and Nobles sells Playboy and similar material, not just "adult"
> bookstores.  
> 
> >If you allow porn to be accessed *by kids* in the library, you might as
> >well have the entire line of material that an adult bookstore has.  Why
> >don't you?  And again, I realize there is space and budget limitations.  
> 
> Hawthorne Public Library, NJ, in the heart of a very conservative
> neighborhood had amongst it's periodical collection Playboy.  It was kept
> behind the reference desk for patrons over the age of 18.  However books by
> Anais Nin and the Marquis de Sade are on the shelf for the taking.  Perhaps
> their would be more pornography if they were reviewed in our library
> journals.  I haven't seen anything really racy in Publisher's Weekly
> lately.<G>  
> 
> Now I'm curious... Are there any other libraries that have Playboy in their
> collection?
> 
> 
> >But just like the adult bookstore will get ridiculed if they allow a child
> >in thier store, the library is going to get ridiculed for not having filter
> >programs installed, or some other control measure. 
> 
> We've never been ridiculed in the several months we've run the 'net without
> filter software.  We use permission slips.  I'm a librarian, and not a
> parent, I do not know what is appropriate for children and what's not.  If
> I were making decisions I'd say "yea" to sex, and "boo" to violence.  Hence
> the decision is best left to the parent.
> 
> 
> >If you are a store owner, and you have porn of any kind in your store, you
> >*will* have to watch who looks at or buys the stuff.  The library is no
> >different.  
> 
> Actually for public libraries there IS a significant difference.  We do not
> 'own' the store.  We are merely the employees of the townships that do.
> That is why, however frustrating at times they can be, we use a Board of
> Trustees (townsfolk) to decide what they want in THEIR library.  I'm sure
> it's different in private, academic or corporate libraries.  
> 
> 
> >I just find it down right disgusting that I can't bring my coke (the soft
> >drink) into the library.  What about coke's freedom of speech, they have a
> >right to, you know! 
> 
> Actually several libraries, Fair Lawn Public, NJ for one, are now
> sponsoring coffee shops similar to Barnes and Noble stores.  
> 
> I've had too much success not filtering to start putting faith in
> technology that is not fail safe.  I think the best adult decision is to
> take responsibility of the situation and not let software do it for you.
> 
> --Cyn
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> mailto:cyn at virtuallibrarian.com
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>