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Show THE OGDEN VALLEY NEWS Page 4 Volume III, Issue VIII February 15, 2001 Library Internet Pornography By Wendy McKay “Pornography? Oh, we restrict most of it.” “Oh, great. Well, we won’t worry then . . . I mean, if most kids are safe . . . it’s too bad about the others though . . . ” Restrict most of it? Is that really an option for any of us. Pornography is a Zero Tolerance issue. The very mention of the word evokes images of a degrading, prurient counter-culture devoid of real love and real affection. Its effect on normal, fulfilling relationships and happy families is devastating and often irreparable. The effects on a community can be seen in the violent crimes that stem from it. Patrick Carnes, a leading U.S. researcher of sexual crimes, casualties and illnesses, found that over 90% of rape, date rape, underage seduction, incest, S&M, exhibitionism, voyeurism, and sexual addiction stem directly from pornography. Dr. Victor Cline Ph.D., a clinical psychologist from the University of Utah, said studies show that “pornography is progressive and addictive for most. It can lead to the user acting out his fantasy—often on children” (Pornography Effects: Empirical and Clinical Evidence). With advances in high-speed modems and video capabilities, the Internet has become the leading medium of the nation’s “adult entertainment” industry, bringing in approximately 12 billion dollars annually. Focus on the Family reported that the porn industry’s prime target is 12 to17 year old boys. Having seven boys, one would imagine that these statistics would keep me up at night. Well until recently, they didn’t. Like most Ogden Valley parents we’ve tried to be been vigilant in protecting our sons from bad movies, literature and pictures, and we have blocks on our Internet. We have been careful about TV exposure, and grocery shopping with mom is not our children’s favorite activity, so they rarely get an eyeful of the distasteful magazines at the checkout counters where material is carefully placed at their eye level (that’s a cause for another day). What woke me up was a close friend coming over and relating an experience her two young children had at the library . . . pornography at our beautiful, Ogden Valley Library! Up to that point I had no idea the computers there did not have blocks on them to filter out pornography. Our schools have filters, Federal and State offices have filters, so of course our tax-funded library would have filters too, right? No, they don’t. And at present, they don’t intend to install any either. In a February 6, “Letter to the Editor” in the Standard-Examiner, the Chairman of the Library Board of Trustees, which Board holds the power for change, commented that the abuse was only an “occasional violation and the public would be served better if we avoid overkill.” If blocking pornography prevents even one child from becoming addicted, then let’s overkill! In November 2000, the Family Research Council released “Dangerous Access, 2000 Edition: Uncovering Internet Pornography in America’s Libraries,” that says the American Library Association (ALA) is ignoring a “Sea of evidence” that “Internet pornog- 801-745-4000 2555 WOLF CREEK DRIVE EDEN, UTAH STORE HOURS: MON. - SAT. 7 AM - 10 PM SUNDAY 7 AM - 9 PM WF Ice Cream 5 qt. pail $3.99 with coupon raphy and the rise of related sex crimes are a serious problem in America’s Libraries.” The study used the Freedom of Information Act to get reports of Internet traffic at libraries. With only 25% of libraries responding, researchers found thousands of incidents of patrons, many of them minor children, accessing pornography in our public libraries. Thousands is not an “occasional violation,” and that’s only 25% of the libraries responding! That number will increase as patrons become addicted and additional patrons, including children, are added to their numbers. The response from the chairman further addresses the issue that current Internet filters were inadequate because they only catch 10% of the pornography that comes up, filters too much legitimate research, and infringes on the First Amendment rights of the patrons. After calls to the Weber County Libraries, managers reiterated this stand, and said they could be sued if Internet research was blocked. Could they be sued if they didn’t provide copies of Ivanhoe or the Wizard of Oz? I countered that pornography is not a First Amendment right, and that it is illegal for anyone, much less a public institution, to provide or allow access to pornography (Utah’s Criminal Law code 76-10-1206). They said they try to monitor the usage and prosecute those found breaking the rules. We appreciate their efforts, but they can’t provide Zero Tolerance by perusing computer areas randomly. A solution would be a “Surf Partner” service so that nothing but illegal material is blocked. Everything comes up on the screening companies screen before it comes up on the patrons’ screen. It may be a little slower, but that inconvenience is far better than having even one child swimming in pornography’s sea of slime. “Surfing Partners” and filters are already being used in 20% of the nation’s libraries in communities that truly care about what it provides to patrons. More are joining every day (The Communications Decency Act of 1996). Another temporary solution, at least for the Ogden Valley branch, is that the computers could be moved to the front of the book stacks so that they are in full view of the librarians desk at all times, and also in view of incoming patrons. This would involve running new wires along the bases of the bookshelves to the new area, as the wires are presently under the carpet. This too is worth the expense that would be incurred, considering the alternative (i.e. rehabilitating addicts, mending families, etc.). Some in the library system would argue that they have taken precautions by providing a Children’s Computer Area that is hooked up to the Library Channel and not to the World Wide Web. That would be wonderful if all minors were restricted to that area, but they are not. The Libraries in our county are members of the American Library Association (ALA), and that liberal association has adopted the United Nations “Rights of a Child” treaty that allows minors equal access to all that adults can access. So even if you provide a children’s center, nothing can stop them from using the “adult” computers and all they contain. Besides, pornography is not just illegal, or harmful, for minors. Finally, as this issue has already been presented to the Library Board of Trustees by a community last spring and nothing was done about it, change will require a tremendous amount of support from community members. Many in our community have already been to hundreds of homes, gathering 11 full pages of signatures. We thank all the youth and parents for all their work. Many are still gathering names to send in with a letter to the Board and the Weber County Commissioners. We need to let the Board know that their present mission statement does not reflect the standards of the families in our community who paid for the library. We won’t take “no” for an answer. Libraries are wonderful! With the Internet, they are opening up the world at cyber-speed. Perhaps if the board had adopted a Zero Tolerance mission statement on pornography, patrons wouldn’t have lost confidence in their ability to manage the current system, and voted the demise of the Library Bond. Over and over I heard people say they weren’t going to pay another dime until they got rid of all the pornography at the libraries. It stands to reason that a place that houses so much adventure, learning, and interest, should not provide, even in the least degree, filth, degradation and addiction. They say it takes a village to raise a child, and it looks like it’s going to take our “village” to protect a child! Let’s stand together and make a joyful noise for change! 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