what's up with my public library?

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sansone

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I take my young sons to the library often. I've already posted how they refuse to carry any "gun" magazines. yesterday I used the library's "public" computer to check email, well the librarian noticed gun photos and asked me to cancel use of their "public" computer. This is a rural county with rifle shots heard daily. hunting is real big here, I am getting upset :mad:
 
Tell her "no."

I know that there is some serious skepticism of the fairness/balanced-ness of libraries on this board. I try to be one of the good librarians, myself. Anyway...

One, she shouldn't be observing your use of library resources. It's not her business what you're looking at, with I guess a few exceptions, as follows.

Two, she shouldn't be attempting to prevent your activities if they are not illegal, extremely disruptive, or very publicly inappropriate, by which I mean, for example, child pornography, screaming and running in circles, or public masturbation.

Three, if she's that upset, tell her to talk to her director. I would be very upset myself.
 
yeah, your right. I should stand my ground but it's uncomfortable to discuss gun issues in public lately. especially a quiet library.
 
I ran security for a Library here for awhile, two things were stressed to me. Everyone is free to use the public PC's for there own personal use. The library reserves the right to deny use to anyone.

A situation similar happened on one of my shifts. I was doing my rounds (had to do this to be sure the homeless population that frequented weren't getting into trouble) and I was confronted by a somewhat of an alarmist librarian. Guy, in his 20's I'd say, browsing multiple firearm web pages. She wanted him ejected. It was her right to do so, but I was also in my right to find out a little more about what was going on. The system had a built in Admin IM feature so I had one sent to him requesting him to see me. I simply explained to him the concern of the librarian and asked him some more information. Informal, not accusatory, just trying to find out some more information. Turns out he's a college student doing a study on how gun control was not effective. I told him I would talk to the librarian.

Long story short it resulted in a meeting with the Library Director, me voicing my displeasure at being ordered to eject someone who was using the library for it's intended purpose. Left shortly after that
 
I understand what you are saying sanson1; however, that is why PC was invented.
Political correct crap, is not about being sensitive, or caring about alternative views, it is about shutting down debate.
The Liberals use PC to shut down debate because they know they cannot win with logic, reasoning, or rational discussion.
This is why they demonize guns, to make us uncomfortable with our passion. This presents a barrier against others becoming interested in the shooting sports (or hunting), and marginalizes us.
Once we are afraid to speak, they can whittle us away as fringe gun-nuts.
 
Yet, if you want to view porn, they can't kick you off...

Disgusting. Our local library has very strict filters that filter out anything related to guns, including "John C. Garand" and THR.

Needless to say, I don't try to use the computers there.
 
IMO, the computer thing isn't a gun issue, it's a speech issue.
The ACLU has gotten involved with sueing some libraries for filtering gun websites (really). Avenger, you don't happen to live in Washington State?
 
My local library has dark screens over the monitors, so no one more than a few feet away can see what you are viewing. They have no web filtering software, so anyone is able to view anything they want. And they also carry American Rifleman and Guns & Ammo magazines, as well as a good selection of gun related books.
 
Small town Oregon have books, but need more, and two
subscriptions, "Guns and Ammo" and "Shooting Times"
Should be more, but I don't see it happening.:)
 
That's nothing; my school blocks GunCite. Reason: weapons.

It made writing my persuasive essay on gun control a real pain, let me tell you.
 
Avenger, you don't happen to live in Washington State
Click to expand...

No, South Carolina. And every gun site I tried, or anything even remotely related to guns was filtered. Also, the filtering was so strict that many sites regardless of what they contained would not come up. I was on my personal laptop, but using their wireless connection.

Of course, my local college has no filters. Go figure.

And THR is really, really good at distracting me from my classes:eek:
 
Here in this little spot in Washington State, several of the Safety Instructors hold their theory meetings in the library. :neener:

The school district's admin wireless system was heavily filtered until they put in some new software just a coule of months ago. The filters are now gone and nobody has noticed. Yet. :evil:

Pops
 
So this is what our tax funded Library has come to. The Library has refused to install filters to protect children from Porn because it will also block adults from going to Porn sites but a gun picture is not allowed. This is not the country I was born in.
 
Sounds like a librarian freaked out about the VT shooting. Librarians as a whole are left of center, but they're also hardcore 1st amendment people. Ask her if she's a member of the ALA.

http://www.ala.org/ala/oif/statementspols/codeofethics/codeethics.htm

We uphold the principles of intellectual freedom and resist all efforts to censor library resources.
Click to expand...

We protect each library user's right to privacy and confidentiality with respect to information sought or received and resources consulted, borrowed, acquired or transmitted.
Click to expand...
We do not advance private interests at the expense of library users, colleagues, or our employing institutions.
Click to expand...
We distinguish between our personal convictions and professional duties and do not allow our personal beliefs to interfere with fair representation of the aims of our institutions or the provision of access to their information resources.
Click to expand...
 
...I should stand my ground but it's uncomfortable to discuss gun issues in public lately. especially a quiet library.
Click to expand...

You wouldn't be arguing about guns, it would be more about the appropriate usage of the library's computers; and what the librarian's powers actually are. Guns would just be a part of the matter.

Might be a chance to help get the word out that guns are not "evil".
 
I definitely agree it is ironic you could probably look at naked women without a problem, but you can't look at guns.


* On a different note, in terms of education, the library may have some really good books on small arms or military weapons. My college library had a ton of books on firearms. And chances are most books would have much more information than a mag or a web site. However, in this day and age, most people want to skim through flashy magazines or surf the net for information instead of learning it the old fashion way. JMO
 
When I was visiting my daughter in FL a little while ago and checking my email at the library, the librarian approached me and asked if we had been successful in finding a range at which to shoot. Apparently my daughter had asked for some help in the search. She then went on to grumble about how she did not know anyone who would take her shooting! I volunteered to bring her along next time I was in town. The other lady there seemed okay with the idea as well. I guess it will vary from place to place.
 
be polite, be peaceful, stand your ground. Intellectual freedom protects her, and you. refer to ALA above, and don't be bullied. take it higher up if necessary and always represent the community of gun owners well!

ST
 
it absolutely varies from place to place. this is a "OK to shoot" county. whoever runs the library is not fitting in at all with the pro-gun majority. I need to find out who makes policy at this library. // above post: are you saying some libraries ALLOW porn to be viewed, but not guns? what the heck is going on? what type of brainless idiots would allow porn but not gun viewing. do the guns expose themselves to children, or stalk them? I'm losing it.. better stop typing
edit: samtucker... you are right
 
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