Internet and Pornography Sponsored by Intellectual Freedom Committee Michigan Library Association October 11, 2006 Rachel Bishop, Larry Neal, Cliff Haka, Anne Seurynck

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Internet Access is a Core Service 100% of Michigan public libraries provide access 100% of Michigan public libraries provide access 43% offer wireless; 25% more plan to within a year 43% offer wireless; 25% more plan to within a year Average public library has 15 stations Average public library has 15 stations Public Libraries and the Internet 2006: Study Results and Findings Bertot, McClure, Jeager and Ryan, September 2006

The Challenges Serving prudes and perverts Serving prudes and perverts Serving people of all ages Serving people of all ages Pornographic protected speech in a safe and welcoming environment Pornographic protected speech in a safe and welcoming environment Fuzzy legal definitions Fuzzy legal definitions Local, state and national politics Local, state and national politics Confrontation Confrontation

5 Ps of Dealing with Porn 2. Policies 3. Place 4. Procedures and Practice 5. Performance 1. Philosophy and Law

Do you care about people viewing porn? Do you care about people viewing porn? Zero tolerance Zero tolerance Be polite Be polite Avert your eyes Avert your eyes Do you rely on federal funding? Do you rely on federal funding? CIPA requirements CIPA requirements DOPA requirements (if becomes law) DOPA requirements (if becomes law) Are you concerned about legal action? Are you concerned about legal action? ACLU ACLU Sexual harassment Sexual harassment

2. Policies Code of conduct Code of conduct Unattended children Unattended children Internet access Internet access Customer-provided equipment Customer-provided equipment Appeals process Appeals process Media relations Media relations

CMPL’s Policy 11. While respecting intellectual freedom and customers’ First Amendment rights, the library is committed to providing an environment free from sexual and other forms of harassment and hate. As defined by federal and state law, users shall not access, send, receive or print materials that can be classified as child pornography. Minors may not access, send, receive, print, or be exposed to materials than can be classified as obscene or harmful to minors. Since staff cannot consistently and effectively monitor the public’s use of the Internet, customers are asked to be sensitive of others’ values and beliefs. Users have a right to privacy without the close scrutiny of library staff or other customers, but should use machines in less visible areas or request a privacy screen when accessing potentially controversial information and images.

3. Place Separate stations by age Separate stations by age Station filters by location regardless of age Station filters by location regardless of age Login filters by age regardless of location Login filters by age regardless of location Provide stations with some privacy Provide stations with some privacy

CMPL’s Policy 12.Recognizing that graphic images on computer screens may be seen easily by passersby of all ages, the library has designated that all computers in open areas shall be minimally filtered for sexual content. The Internet lab at the Main Library and a designated station at each branch library shall provide unfiltered access and shall only be used by customers age 18 and above. 13.Workstations in the Children’s Services area of the Main Library are reserved for minors and their parents or legal guardians. Parents and guardians must be accompanied by a minor in the Children’s Services area.

4. Procedures and Practice General guidelines to empower staff General guidelines to empower staff Can’t anticipate every situation Can’t anticipate every situation Solicit staff input (policies and guidelines) Solicit staff input (policies and guidelines) Discuss and role play before a situation Discuss and role play before a situation Feel comfortable in calling police Feel comfortable in calling police Apply policy fairly to all users Apply policy fairly to all users

5. Performance Be prepared Be prepared Respond promptly Respond promptly Two staff members should be involved Two staff members should be involved Review incidents with staff regarding what did or did not go well Review incidents with staff regarding what did or did not go well

Lessons Learned Should have responded immediately Should have responded immediately Be prepared to ban on spot Be prepared to ban on spot Written procedures can help under stressful circumstances Written procedures can help under stressful circumstances Police reports can become newspaper articles or even… Police reports can become newspaper articles or even…

WKYC (Cleveland, Ohio) May 22, 2006 also played on MSNBC. … TV news exposés!

Resources Creating Policies for Results by Sandra Nelson and June Garcia Creating Policies for Results by Sandra Nelson and June Garcia Black Belt Librarians by Warren Graham Black Belt Librarians by Warren Graham ALA’s “Libraries and the Internet Toolkit” ALA’s “Libraries and the Internet Toolkit” CMPL’s new policies and guidelines CMPL’s new policies and guidelines