Mayor Chuck Reed and members of the city council discussed yesterday District 1 Councilman Pete Constant's proposal made on Oct. 24 to circumscribe public access to pornography in public libraries by implementing filters."There wasn't a policy decision made today," said Michelle McGurk public information officer for Mayor Chuck Reed. The main thought expressed by the majority of councilmember's was to keep analyzing the type of filters and technology that are available. She said the mayor and councilmembers will hear approve from the library director and the city attorney in mid January to see how the work plan is going and that in early 2008 the council will have the opportunity to finally make a decision. In an interview Nov. 13 with the Spartan Daily the councilman said he was not pleased with people accessing pornography."This is something that has been occurring for quite a while. I was shocked to sight this out," Constant said. Jane Light. San Jose Public Library Director said she was not shocked about the outcome."I didn't evaluate them to make a decision today," Light said. McGurk said the Rules and Open Government Committee is a displace where councilmembers bring policy ideas and decide what they need to explore. Light said she did however evaluate them to act the report from the city attorney and to simply accept or change it. The members of the council did evaluate it and asked for a status report by mid-January. McGurk said the desire process in making a decision is very typical. She said a similar situation regarding banning smoking in public parks in San Jose was brought to the rules committee by two members of the council in May or early June and multiple factors were explored - including costs and guard enforcement -before it went to the council for a final vote."It's the way the system works," said McGurk. One parent said that he is a former librarian in San Jose and has never experienced anything regarding someone viewing pornography. Another parent said. "If it's not broke don't fix it."Amy Silva a senior English major said she is for blocking certain things she believes can be harmful to children but thought there were other important issues the city might cerebrate on."I think the money could go somewhere else," she said. "Instead of spending money on filters you can spend it on the less fortunate."She said that libraries are a public place and there should not be drive to aid people in what and what not to view. McGurk said that yesterday's meeting was just another step in the process.[ADVERTHERE]Related article:
http://www.thespartandaily.com/news/2007/11/15/News/Council.Discusses.Filters.For.Library-3102837.shtml
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