MYNORTHWEST NEWS

Seattle library blasted for allowing porn, Wenatchee library sued for blocking it

Feb 3, 2012, 5:10 AM | Updated: 6:22 am

Earlier this week, a controversy erupted over a man being allowed to watch pornography in a Seattle Public Library. Now, another library system is feeling the heat from the opposite direction.

Seattle libraries are in the cross-hairs of some parents, angry that their kids could inadvertently be exposed to hard-core porn while in a public space, because adult patrons are allowed to watch it right out in the open.

And while some would like to see stronger filters at Seattle’s libraries, a library system on the other side of the Cascades is getting blasted for not allowing access to pornography.

The American Civil Liberties Union [ACLU] is suing the North Central Regional Library District, centered in Wenatchee, for making online porn off-limits.

The district says it bans pornography from its computers in order to ensure a safe work environment.

“We believe that the presence of pornography in public places hurts our ability to accomplish our mission,” says Dan Howard, with the North Central Regional Library system.

Howard says that mission is to promote reading and lifelong learning.

But the ACLU’S Doug Honig complains that the porn filter blocks many other appropriate websites as well.

“That has prevented our plaintiffs who are an artist, a college student, a gun rights magazine and a guy that had a MySpace page, from getting access to perfectly reasonable material,” says Honig.

So broad is the reach of Wenatchee’s porn filter that even Google images
pages are off-limits.

The state Supreme Court ruled in favor of the library district two years ago. The case is now pending in federal court.

MyNorthwest News

Image: The awnings of a store advertise the sale of lottery tickets, including Mega Millions and Po...

Steve Coogan

Lottery jackpots update: Powerball prize jumps again after $1.1B Mega Millions win

A lottery jackpots update: The Powerball prize reached an estimated $935 million ahead of Saturday night's drawing.

8 hours ago

Photo: The Judge Patricia H. Clark Children and Family Justice Center....

James Lynch

King County’s plan to close youth detention center met with fierce backlash

The King County Law and Justice Committee received a final report on Executive Dow Constantine's plan to close a youth detention center.

10 hours ago

Image: A cargo ship is stuck under the part of the structure of the Francis Scott Key Bridge after ...

Associated Press

Authorities identify 2 bodies recovered at site of Baltimore bridge collapse

A major bridge in Baltimore snapped and collapsed after a container ship rammed into it early Tuesday, and several vehicles fell into the river below.

12 hours ago

Photo: Mountaineer Jim Whittaker has died at 95....

Gene Johnson, The Associated Press

Lou Whittaker, among the most famous American mountaineers, has died at age 95

Lou Whittaker, a legendary American mountaineer who helped lead ascents of Mount Everest, K2 and Denali, has died at age 95.

12 hours ago

File photo: Former Sen. Joe Lieberman speaks in Washington on Jan. 18, 2024....

Associated Press

Former Sen. Joe Lieberman, Democrats’ VP pick in 2000, dead at 82

Former U.S. Sen. Joe Lieberman of Connecticut, who nearly won the vice presidency on the Democratic ticket with Al Gore in 2000, has died.

12 hours ago

Image: A Tacoma teen was shot outside her Tacoma Hilltop area apartment over the weekend....

Heather Bosch

Estranged boyfriend suspected in Tacoma teen’s death turns himself in

We're learning more about the man who's accused of fatally shooting a teenager outside her Tacoma Hill Top area apartment over the weekend.

13 hours ago

Seattle library blasted for allowing porn, Wenatchee library sued for blocking it