Censorship?Selection?

["Dr. Dana McDougald" <dmcdouga@COE.UGA.EDU>]

During dinner with friends last night, one posed what to me was a
fascinating question which I thought might generate some discussion.  He
is a frequent public library user, and though most of us are not public
librarians I am hoping that there are some on this listserv who are who
will respond to this.  He said, "How do librarians (meaning pubic) justify
not having magazines such as Playboy or Hustler which, of course, I
understand that they are pornographic material and that is why they don't
have them, yet they have all these Internet stations and there are men
sitting at the computers going (and at this, he described drooling
motions) at the pornographic sites that they have accessed?"

Well, I could address the print material -- limited budgets, selection,
etc. -- and I can explain acceptable use policies in schools, but what
about public libraries?

I thought it was a darn good question, and I'd love to hear some opinions
on it.  Then maybe I can share them with him.

TIA

Dana McDougald, Librarian
CSHS Library, A National Award-Winnning Library
Cedar Shoals H. S., A National Blue Ribbon School
1300 Cedar Shoals Dr.
Athens, Ga. 30605
dmcdouga@coe.uga.edu

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