Managing Internet access in Dallas public libraries

Dallas' only daily made a big deal recently about the amount of pornographic Web sites being accessed by folks at the Dallas Public Library. Tomorrow the Library System is making its recommendations to the City Council's Quality of Life Committe on what to do about it. Briefly it is this: The library plans to install a filtering system so that when a patron accesses a page that may -- and the operative word here is "may" -- be questionable, a warning box appears that says "The site you are requesting may violate the Internet Acceptable Use Policy" (at least, that's what I think it's going to say, but in the presentation the library made to council the word "Policy" was replaced by "Police," a Freudian slipup, I'm sure). Then the box says "Do you wish to continue?"

If you click "Yes," you will be granted access to your page but, simultaneously, a warning will be set to the librian's desk letting the chief know that someone has accessed a "dubious" Web site.

The briefing doesn't really go into what happens after that, although in the appendix to the briefing there is a reference to Chapter 43 of the Texas Penal Code. Section 22 of that chapter states: "A person commits an offense if he intentionally or knowingly displays or distributes an obscene photograph, drawing, or similar visual representation or other obscene material and is reckless about whether a person is present who will be offended or alarmed by the display or distribution." This offense is classified as a Class C misdemeanor which is punishable by a fine not to exceed $500.

Now the question becomes whether a librarian can write a ticket. I don't think so. So I guess a policeman must be summoned, which will give us a whole new debate about response times. Probably the main punishment will be a simple revocation of all library privileges, but, like I said, the briefing doesn't go into enforcement at all.