We’ve got yet another reason to love San Francisco now. The San Francisco Public Library has been installing plastic privacy shields on some of their computer monitors. Why, you ask? For porn, of course!
Yes, it turns out public libraries across the country have been struggling for years with trying to find a solution to the problem of library patrons who like to watch porn. The Supreme Court requires public libraries to install adult content filters if they wish to receive online education funding. However, each individual library system across the country has the choice how to use those filters. Many libraries actually pride themselves on leaving the content filters optional for patrons and allowing unlimited access to the Internet.
Librarian Luis Herrera says “We’re always looking for any kind of elegant solution that strikes a balance between the right to privacy and folks that want to use the library for any other intended purpose.” And, in the age of the Internet, it’s becoming very apparent that library patrons are looking for porn online. Since the librarians don’t want to police it, they’ve come up with this solution as a way for patrons to have privacy without showing porn to those who don’t want to see it.
At the moment, only 18 computers at the city’s main branch are equipped with the privacy screens but, if they’re a hit, San Francisco is looking at installing the system at all computers in all the city’s branches. Here’s to more elegant solutions to providing people with the freedom to view what they want online.
Tags: libraries, privacy, San Francisco