A Universe of Stories

We notice once again, that librarians continue to be at the fore in protecting our rights and privacy. We note from the washington post. Cameron Bar reports that

Two uniformed men strolled into the main room of the Little Falls library in Bethesda one day last week and demanded the attention of all patrons using the computers. Then they made their announcement: The viewing of Internet pornography was forbidden.

…

After the two men made their announcement, one of them challenged an Internet user’s choice of viewing material and asked him to step outside, according to a witness. A librarian intervened, and the two men went into the library’s work area to discuss the matter. A police officer arrived. In the end, no one had to step outside except the uniformed men.

…

Although many library systems in the United States use filtering software, the D.C. and Fairfax systems do not, and Montgomery uses such software only on computers available to children. Leslie Burger, president-elect of the American Library Association, said the reality is that “libraries are not the hotbed of looking at porn sites.”

Still, Montgomery plans to train its homeland security officers “so they fully understand library policy and its consistency with residents’ First Amendment rights under the U.S. Constitution,” Romer said in his statement.

All I can say is thanks.

-_ Rick