Why won't library protect children?
(the Library Board has been dealing with this since 1997 - see article below)
©The Charlotte Observer - Published Sunday, April 1, 2001
Bill
James: "A
compromise could keep offensive and indecent material out of the hands of
Charlotte-Mecklenburg children"
Library
Board Response: "We
have asked the library staff to carefully review the book acquisition process
and make recommendations for improvements to ensure it reflects oin the broadest
sense possible. Additionally, we have asked library staff to examine, develop
and make recommendations on procedures, alternatives and options that will
safeguard our young children regarding access to adult controversial
bookstroversial books."
The extent of this problem nationwide can be seen by going to Libraryporn.org
Response from The Library Board agreeing to conduct a review
Public Library of Charlotte & Mecklenburg County
|
310
North Tryon Street ˘ Charlotte ˘ North
Carolina ˘ 28202
˘ 704-336-2801
˘ FAX
704-336-2677 |
April
5, 2001
Dear
Chairman Helms:
On behalf
of the current Library Board of Trustees, we extend our deepest appreciation
for the relationship of respect and dedication that exists between the Library
and Board of County Commissioners. The appreciation we express is reflected in
the commitment exhibited by the citizens who have served in prior years as
Library Trustee Chairs including Robert Sink, Sally Robinson, Elizabeth
Randolph, Dennis Rash, Eleanor Morris, Peter Keber, Patsy Kinsey and Carla
DuPuy. Within an environment of mutual trust, the Commission has provided this
community with a support for quality library services and an advocacy of
innovation, creativity and bold initiatives. That trust, support and advocacy
have made it possible to provide an institution with facilities, services,
programs and resources that is recognized as one of the finest libraries in
our nation.
Our
two bodies have a long and distinguished history of mutually dealing with
important issues, concerns, practices and fiscal dilemmas.
We have achieved resolutions characterized by consensus allowing all to
move forward positively, providing service for the greater good.
The
Library Trustees are keenly aware of and fully share responsibility with the
Commission in addressing the difficult and pressing issues currently before
us. The Board has heard the important concerns of our citizens as they have
been raised and discussed in public forum and through the media.
We have given these matters great consideration and have taken actions
to address them, as we will continue to do in our endeavor to be responsive to
our public. We have asked the library staff to carefully review the book
acquisition process and make recommendations for improvements to ensure it
reflects our community standards in the broadest sense possible.
Additionally, we have asked library staff to examine, develop and make
recommendations on procedures, alternatives and options that will safeguard
our young children regarding access to adult controversial books.
Staff
and Trustees consistently revisit the Library’s Internet use policies. We have
and will continue to incorporate provisions that ensure these policies provide
necessary protections while affording appropriate access to information.
These concerns and issues are shared with public library communities
across America.
Your
Library Board of Trustees maintains the utmost sensitivity to these concerns and
will proceed within that framework of sensitivity to inform you, the Board of
County Commissioners about the outcomes of
our actions and their legal, operational and budgetary impact.
Very truly
yours,
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C. Don
Steger, Ph.D., Chairman
Dr. William (Bill) Wood, Vice-Chairman
Library
Board of Trustees
Library Board of Trustees
|
October 9, 1997 Section: METRO Edition: THREE Page: 1C MARY ELIZABETH DeANGELIS, Staff Writer Racier than the steamiest daytime soap opera. Words even Howard Stern can't use on the air. Welcome to your Mecklenburg County commissioners meeting, live on TV.
|
| If you
tuned into the local government cable channel Tuesday night to
see what your elected leaders were up to, you may have heard
more than you wanted. If your kids were watching, you probably
scrambled to hit the mute button.
The broadcast turned graphically sexual when a speaker took the podium during the commissioners' meeting to complain about a book of gay short stories he found in the public library's Morrison branch near SouthPark. Martin Davis, 40, a Charlotte salesman, used his three minutes of public-speaking time to read excerpts from the ``Faber Book of Gay Fiction,'' where profanity and obscenities vividly describe sex between men. His reading put some commissioners in a quandary: Should they let Davis speak freely and risk offending the audience or stop him and face accusations of censorship? Commissioners sat stunned, staring silently at Davis. ``Hey, Marty, do you really need to do this?'' Republican Tom Bush chided. But commissioners Chairman Parks Helms opted to let Davis continue uninterrupted. The audience, which had earlier included a pack of elementary schoolchildren, listened in embarrassment, with some people staring uncomfortably at the floor. ``Mecklenburg County is peddling free pornography,'' said Davis, who is active in the local Republican Party. ``County commissioners should see that all pornography is removed from our library.'' He also said the county should fire the staff person who bought the books. As Davis finished and walked out of the meeting, Helms stared coldly at his back. ``We live in a free society where people are free to come and express their views and opinions,'' Helms told the audience at the Government Center and on TV. ``They are free to come here and let you know who they are. ``You have just had an opportunity to get to know Mr. Martin Davis.'' Davis said he intended to offend commissioners. ``They should be offended,'' he said Wednesday. ``It is criminal. It's hard-core pornography. It almost made me retch to read it. To me it indicates they have lost control of the public library.'' Commissioners had mixed reactions to Davis' speech, and how they should respond. Most say they don't plan to try to ban books from the library. ``I don't think the county commission should be involved in saying what's appropriate in libraries,'' Bush said Wednesday. ``The danger of giving the impression of government censorship is too great.'' Commissioner Bill James said Davis has a valid concern. James, along with Bush and three other board members, voted earlier this year to cut funding to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Arts & Science Council because of objections to public money going to groups that performed plays with gay themes. ``If he wanted to get shock value, he accomplished what he wanted because he certainly shocked me,'' James said. ``It sounded like pornography. It makes me wonder what sort of standards these guys at the library use.'' James said he won't lead a fight to ban books from the libraries because political opponents would accuse him of censorship, as they did in the arts debate. The city canceled a Wednesday night rebroadcast of the meeting that had been scheduled for the Government Channel (Time-Warner Cable 16). Another rebroadcast scheduled for 1 p.m. Sunday may also be canceled. County attorney Marvin Bethune said it's unclear whether the broadcast violated any regulations. ``I've never seen anything like this in the 18 years I've been doing this,'' Bethune said. Library Executive Director Bob Cannon says the library staff selects about 50 new books a day. People who object to content of library books or videos can fill out a complaint form, which is reviewed by a committee. ``The library is not to promote any point of view or philosophy, but to represent different points of view,'' Cannon said. ``We have material on a host of controversial subjects. . . . ``There's probably something in there to offend everybody.'' Reach
Mary Elizabeth DeAngelis at (704) 358-5239 or
Copyright (c) 1997 The Charlotte Observer |