Groups push Internet filters after library sex offender incident
Posted: Tuesday, November 22, 2005
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) -- Some advocacy groups are pushing harder for Internet filters at libraries after an alleged incident involving a homeless sex offender in Des Moines.
Police have accused James Effler Jr. of molesting a toddler in a restroom at Des Moines' main public library. Effler told police he used library computers to view pornography many times, authorities said, but he had not logged on the day he was arrested.
Advocacy groups contend that Effler wouldn't have violated any laws or broken library rules by viewing the pornography, because the library doesn't restrict the sites patrons can access.
Some library groups, including the American Library Association, hesitate to install the Internet filters to block pornographic Web sites, despite the risk of losing federal funding.
"This is a sad thing. Children are being raped and molested in public libraries, and it's often a result of pornography being available to people in public libraries," said Dan Kleinman, founder of the Chatham, N.J.-based Plan 2 Succeed citizens group, which seeks to filter library computers.
"It's reoccurring in these communities. It's not frequent, but reoccurring," he said.
Although he couldn't provide proof that offenders who become aroused by viewing pornographic material at libraries victimize women and children, he cited testimony in Congress about how pornography is addictive and triggers primal sexual urges.
Katherine Martin, president of the Iowa Library Association, said she supports open access to legal information, which includes legal pornography, so long as other library patrons are protected from seeing the material.
"I believe individuals have a right to view what they want as long as it's not in violation of the law, but I do believe arrangements should be made for privacy or to avoid offending others at computer workstations," Martin said.
Some library groups claim filters also can hinder legitimate research, including research on topics such as medical conditions.
About 14 percent of Iowa's 543 public libraries and 26 branches use filters on each library computer, according to a 2004 survey by the Information Use Management and Policy Institute. The survey said about 77 percent do not filter at all, while 7 percent use a blanket filter for all computers in the library.
Nationally, 52 percent of libraries do not filter Internet-ready computers. About 17 percent filter each computer.
In 2003, the U.S. Supreme Court said the federal government can withhold money from public libraries that do not use filtering devices under the Children's Internet Protection Act.
Nationwide, there have been some arrests of sex offenders who used computers at public libraries.
In June, Texas authorities revoked the probation of a convicted sex offender after teenagers at a San Antonio library saw him looking at child pornography on a computer. Investigators seized a disk with images of child pornography that he had downloaded.
In Lincoln, Neb., a man was charged with possession of child pornography in July after allegedly printing images from a computer at a public library.
In the Oct. 4 case in Des Moines, Effler is accused of grabbing a 20-month-old girl from the floor near her baby sitter, taking her to a restroom and assaulting her. Library workers rescued the girl.
Effler was arrested on charges of first-degree kidnapping, second-degree assault and failure to comply with rules of the Iowa Sex Offender Registry because he was not living at the address he listed on the registry.
Detective Tom Follett said Effler told police he planned to use a computer to look at porn but had not logged on before the girl was taken.
Police have accused James Effler Jr. of molesting a toddler in a restroom at Des Moines' main public library. Effler told police he used library computers to view pornography many times, authorities said, but he had not logged on the day he was arrested.
Advocacy groups contend that Effler wouldn't have violated any laws or broken library rules by viewing the pornography, because the library doesn't restrict the sites patrons can access.
Some library groups, including the American Library Association, hesitate to install the Internet filters to block pornographic Web sites, despite the risk of losing federal funding.
"This is a sad thing. Children are being raped and molested in public libraries, and it's often a result of pornography being available to people in public libraries," said Dan Kleinman, founder of the Chatham, N.J.-based Plan 2 Succeed citizens group, which seeks to filter library computers.
"It's reoccurring in these communities. It's not frequent, but reoccurring," he said.
Although he couldn't provide proof that offenders who become aroused by viewing pornographic material at libraries victimize women and children, he cited testimony in Congress about how pornography is addictive and triggers primal sexual urges.
Katherine Martin, president of the Iowa Library Association, said she supports open access to legal information, which includes legal pornography, so long as other library patrons are protected from seeing the material.
"I believe individuals have a right to view what they want as long as it's not in violation of the law, but I do believe arrangements should be made for privacy or to avoid offending others at computer workstations," Martin said.
Some library groups claim filters also can hinder legitimate research, including research on topics such as medical conditions.
About 14 percent of Iowa's 543 public libraries and 26 branches use filters on each library computer, according to a 2004 survey by the Information Use Management and Policy Institute. The survey said about 77 percent do not filter at all, while 7 percent use a blanket filter for all computers in the library.
Nationally, 52 percent of libraries do not filter Internet-ready computers. About 17 percent filter each computer.
In 2003, the U.S. Supreme Court said the federal government can withhold money from public libraries that do not use filtering devices under the Children's Internet Protection Act.
Nationwide, there have been some arrests of sex offenders who used computers at public libraries.
In June, Texas authorities revoked the probation of a convicted sex offender after teenagers at a San Antonio library saw him looking at child pornography on a computer. Investigators seized a disk with images of child pornography that he had downloaded.
In Lincoln, Neb., a man was charged with possession of child pornography in July after allegedly printing images from a computer at a public library.
In the Oct. 4 case in Des Moines, Effler is accused of grabbing a 20-month-old girl from the floor near her baby sitter, taking her to a restroom and assaulting her. Library workers rescued the girl.
Effler was arrested on charges of first-degree kidnapping, second-degree assault and failure to comply with rules of the Iowa Sex Offender Registry because he was not living at the address he listed on the registry.
Detective Tom Follett said Effler told police he planned to use a computer to look at porn but had not logged on before the girl was taken.
Story Comments
Read More and Post Comments 0 comment(s)
Please note: The following are comments from readers. In no way do they represent the views of The Sioux City Journal or Lee Enterprises. We will not edit or alter your comments, but we do reserve the right to not post or to remove comments that violate our code of conduct. No comment may contain potentially libelous statements; obscene, explicit or racist language; personal attacks, insults or threats. Terms of Service
