Libraries Seek Balance Over Porn on Public Computers

Both the Ridgewood and Glen Rock public libraries have fielded reports of people looking at explicit material on library computers, but say the events are infrequent and policies are place to quell problems when they arise.

"It's quite rare," Glen Rock Public Library Director Betsy Wald said of people spotted surfing the web for smut. "Any complaints are very infrequent and taken care of quickly."

Ridgewood Library Director Nancy Greene expressed similar sentiments when interviewed over the summer.

However rare, with several reports in recent months the Glen Rock library's board of trustees wrote a letter to the editor in the Glen Rock Gazette explaining its policies on explicit viewing and monitoring.

The key, in the words of the trustees and library director, is to strike a balance.

"If someone were to engage in illegal activity, such as viewing child pornography, then the police would be called immediately," the trustees wrote in the letter. "When it comes to viewing other legally protected materials that may be offensive, the staff cannot take it upon themselves to define what is appropriate, but they can respond to the complaints from other patrons and take action to address the situation."

Such action ranges from asking the viewer to click off the site or move to a different computer.

Due to issues with first amendment rights, neither the Glen Rock nor Ridgewood library has software filters to prevent someone from searching for explicit material.

"I don't believe it's a good solution to striking a balance with patrons sensibilities and first amendment rights," Wald said.

Filters, employed by many libraries nationwide and occasionally challenged by the ACLU and other groups, can prevent important research like breast cancer, Wald said.

Each of the 16 public computers in Glen Rock have screen savers spelling out the library's internet use policy. They're also posted above on the walls. 

"The library has also committed to putting computers in
the children's room for the exclusive use of elementary school-aged
children," Wald said.

The library installed privacy screens at each of the computers in the adult section over the summer. The screens may make it easier for those interested in looking at lewd material without detection. It's an unintended consequence, however.

The primary purpose in having the screens is to make patrons comfortable when looking at sensitive information like job searches and tax returns, Wald said.

"It's not a perfect solution," Wald said. "But it's a really effective tool."

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