Internet Use

[O'Connor, Bonnie]

I am writing from a Health Sciences Center Library where we do not need to
censor our customers use of the Internet (except for playing games). We
currently have enough resources to meet demand. The Library Computer Center
is the only place on our campus where students have access to email, word
processing, the Internet and everything that is electronic in our library or
available by consortium agreements.  There are no other computer labs.

When we first brought the Lab up we had a good many students view
pornography; however, that seemed to go away - until this year.  It has
again become an issue.  We received a written suggestion last night and I
quote:  "I am offended by the male users that are viewing and printing
pornographic material.  Please do something to stop this.  I do not want my
money being used for their sick idea of pleasure."  Our students pay a
computer use fee.  We have no policy that specifically addresses
pornography.  We've had our staff complain they are uncomfortable by some of
the sites that are being viewed and printed.  We've also had students come
up and ask us to do something about this.

Our current response is something like this:
Please ask the offending user to be considerate of the people around them
and to remember that this is a public area.  You do not have accuse them of
viewing pornography, just ask them to remember that they are in a public
area.

You do not have to tell the user to stop, you do not have to tell them to
leave the Lab.  Please try to be as nice about it as possible.  Usually
these people think that no one has noticed them, so even by you just saying
one or two sentences to them, you'll probably embarrass them and that will
be all you need to do. 

I would be intersted in hearing how others handle this type of situation.  
Bonnie O'Connor
Internet Services Coordinator
UTHSCSA
oconnor at uthscsa.edu