Screens to hide porn at libraries

[gonzo]

The Tucson-Pima Public Library will install privacy screens around its computers so passers-by won't be exposed to pornography. (http://news.yahoo.com/s/azstar/20060712/lo_azstar/screenstohidepornatlibraries)

The Pima County Board of Supervisors adopted that policy on Tuesday in response to concerns about viewing of online pornography at library branches.

The supervisors voted to spend $40,000 on the privacy screens, which will extend outward on both sides of each computer monitor but will be open at the top, so someone could stand behind a computer user and look over his shoulder.

Library Director Nancy Ledeboer said the screens, her preferred option, also have the benefit of protecting private medical and financial information that users might be perusing.

[TheEnforcer]

Much more of a low tech solution than all the blocking filters and such.

[Panky]

Under the already existing policy, all children's computers have filters, and adults can choose whether to filter their Internet access. Computer users are not supposed to look at obscene material, child pornography or material harmful to minors, and those who do can be asked to leave.

So the library prefers that people don't view porn, but they will spend $40,000 so the user has privacy when viewing porn.

If they are concerned about children accidentally being exposed or anyone being offended because someone is watching a porn flick in the library, then why not just make a phone call to the provider and/or change a few settings and block porn?