Comments on: Equal Access http://www.swissarmylibrarian.net/2007/02/01/equal-access/ or, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to Fear and Loathing at a Public Library Reference Desk Sat, 18 May 2013 18:29:38 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5.1 By: Emma http://www.swissarmylibrarian.net/2007/02/01/equal-access/#comment-20549 Emma Wed, 27 Feb 2013 00:46:56 +0000 http://www.swissarmylibrarian.net/?p=53#comment-20549 That’s helpful, thanks!

]]> By: Brian Herzog http://www.swissarmylibrarian.net/2007/02/01/equal-access/#comment-20525 Brian Herzog Mon, 25 Feb 2013 15:49:20 +0000 http://www.swissarmylibrarian.net/?p=53#comment-20525 @Emma: good question. Since the topic is so broad, you almost have to have an equally-broad policy, and then apply it accordingly (and perhaps differently) to each individual situation. My library’s policies are online, if that helps.

Our procedure, though (I think), is the important thing. We always immediately respond to complaints – I go over to the “offender” and never accuse them of anything or ask to see their screen or anything like that. I just tell them that someone complained about something they saw on their screen, that this is a public building, and so anything on computer screens must be appropriate for all ages. Sometimes the person was watching YouTube music videos, or shopping for underwear or something online, but often the person apologizes and then leaves shortly thereafter. Not ideal, but it seems to work.

]]> By: Emma http://www.swissarmylibrarian.net/2007/02/01/equal-access/#comment-20500 Emma Sat, 23 Feb 2013 23:40:05 +0000 http://www.swissarmylibrarian.net/?p=53#comment-20500 This has always bothered me too. Moreover, our library has basically no policy on when to intervene if someone is looking at potentially objectionable content. It seems odd not to have a written policy about something so significant, and not having something explicit seems to contribute to the inconsistency because we never had to sit down and have a conversation about what that policy would say if it existed. At that point someone could have said something like your point about political and racist sites.

Does anyone else’s library have a formal policy, and if so, what does it say?

]]>