Welcome to Law and Order: Library Style. What if when you tried to log onto this blog, you were asked to provide some form of identification before proceeding? Some of you would have just logged off, others begrudgingly would have provided it and for some, it wouldn't have bothered you at all. Would having you provide information to me made this blog safer? better? I don't think so, maybe it would seem exclusive. But should libraries feel exclusive? Or worse yet, be exclusive. In my opinion, that completely defeats the purpose of a public library. The idea of requiring library patrons to obtain ID cards is one of the many legal issues currently facing librarians. Each blog posting will focus on a legal issue affecting libraries and their patrons. I will also include links to articles relavant to the topic. Today's article is from the Boston Globe. The mayor of New Bedford is proposing ID cards for all city libraries. Please post your comments so we can open up a dialgoue regarding this issue.
http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2008/02/06/new_bedford_mayor_wants_barcoded_id_cards_for_city_libraries/
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4 comments:
I have mixed emotions on this issue. On one hand, I feel uncomfortable thinking that a sex offender could be roaming around the same building as the rest of us. On the other hand, public libraries are supposed to be open to everyone. People with criminal backgrounds are in many other public places. Why not the library?
This issue and censorship are huge in the news lately. I don't see any signs of stopping either due to ethical and moral issues involved. You can't profile everyone that walks in the library door, it's bad enough at football games. I can't wait to see what happens though.
I agree, I think that exclusivity may add a false sense of security. But the need to constantly sign in is just another example of the securityphile culture that is developing rapidly. As far as sex offenders entering a public library, I can't say. I would be most worried about children, and since I have none, I wouldn't want to speak to that. I might only add that perhaps sex offenders should have to make themselves know descretly to a governing member of the library, though I haven't really thought this idea through. Just seems like a compromise idea between two extremes, free reign and denied access.
This kind of goes along with the ethics situation we are supposed to write about. How much freedom should people have at libraries to access the information that they want? It is definitely a tough question. I have a hard time taking a position because I see both sides. Amy, it seems like you do too.
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