Iowan Porn

Some poor deluded Iowan state senators have introduced a bill to stop porn in the library. From American Libraries Online:
"A bill introduced January 30 in the Iowa Senate would withhold state funding to public libraries unless they 'eliminate access to pornography on the public library’s computer equipment.' If enacted, Senate File 2108 would also require state-funded public libraries to prohibit patrons younger than 17 from borrowing R-rated films. "

The library director says this should be a local issue, as perhaps it should. But I think the American Librarian Association, defender of the right of information access for perverts and the privacy of suspected terrorists, should stand up strongly against this attempt to promote some kind of decency in public libraries. After all, these senators are merely the elected representatives of the people, and we all know that the people don't know what's good for them. That's why we have librarians to tell people what's good for them.

We should make it part of the reader's (or viewer's) advisory service to promote so-called offensive porn sites. And we should positively require anyone under the age of seventeen to check out at least one R-rated (or better, NC-17!) video for every two they normally check out. We could have a stash behind the childrens' circulation desks for just such an occasion. "Oh," says the children's librarian, "I see you've checked out a Wiggles and a Teletubbies video. I will now include the required NC-17-rated video for your viewing pleasure. We have "Showgirls" and "Blonde Emmanuelle in 3D" left. Which would you prefer? I'm sorry, I can't hear you. Can you please get out of the stroller and come nearer? I can't move any closer to you because my enormous bottom is wedged too tightly into my chair."