[WEB4LIB] Internet Use

[Dan Lester]

At 01:40 PM 10/14/98 -0700, O'Connor, Bonnie wrote:
>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

We don't block any content.  A quick look at
T:\virtual\lester\htdocs\98october.htm
will show that several of our the hundred visited sites on our public
machines are porn sites.  However, we've had no complaints yet.  

In a couple of cases on campus in computer labs, however, those who refused
to stop blatantly looking at porn when asked to stop by the person at
adjacent workstation, and by the lab monitor, and by the sheriff (who
supplies campus security under contract), were cited under sexual
harassment regulations on campus.  They received some sorts of punishment
under student judicial procedures.  I didn't follow up on what it was.  

As I understand sexual harassment, if someone says they've been harassed,
you'd better take it seriously.  Follow up with the appropriate warnings,
citations, etc, that are called for in your campus policies and
regulations.  It is quick, easy, and most important, it removes the library
from being the "bad guy" or the "cops" or other nasty things.  

I did have one case where a young man was looking at the Playboy site.  He
looked like he was under 18, more likely 14.  An older lady came to the
desk and said that he was looking at it.  I asked if she had a complaint or
problem.  No.  Did she feel sexually harassed?  No.  She "just thought I
ought to know since he looked young".   I told her that we don't check
patrons ages and that if he was under 18 that was between him and his
parents unless a complaint was being filed.  She thanked me for the
information and departed.  

Librarians often think they have to reinvent rules and regulations.....when
usually the ones we need are already in place...and we just have to do our
library research to find out what they are and how to use them effectively.

cheers

dan
  




>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

--
Dan Lester, 3577 East Pecan, Boise, ID 83716-7115 USA 208-383-0165
dan at 84.com   http://www.84.com/  http://www.idaholibraries.org/
 http://library.idbsu.edu/   http://cyclops.idbsu.edu/ http://www.lili.org/  
Sent me a postcard of a library yet?  You'll get something nice in return.