Parent upset son saw porn on library computer

MILL CREEK — Heidi Ihler of Everett is upset that pornography can be viewed on computers in the Mill Creek library.

When her 11-year-old son, Josh, visited the Mill Creek Public Library recently with his father, Damon Ihler, he glanced over at a computer someone else was using and saw an explicit sex act on the screen.

"My son was waiting by the front desk for a children’s librarian to help him when he glanced at the computer section and saw hard-core pornography," Heidi Ihler said. "I was appalled."

She wondered why the computers weren’t filtered, and why they were not segregated to a different area of the library so children wouldn’t inadvertently be exposed to pornography.

Penni Vogel, regional manager of Sno-Isle Regional Library System, said the library does filter Internet content. When patrons use computers, they type in their library card number and the computer automatically filters the content for those under age 18.

When adults use the computers, their content is not filtered. The computer screens are, however, lowered into desks with hoods for privacy.

"We felt really badly when we got the call from Ms. Ihler, because it was inadvertent viewing and, unfortunately, some of those computers are near our reference desk," Vogel said.

It’s not legal to bar pornography completely from the library, Vogel said.

Bur by July 1, all libraries in the Sno-Isle system will meet federal standards set by the Child Internet Protection Act, she said, which requires all computers with Internet access to operate with filtering technology to prevent children under 17 from explicit sexual scenes.

Those 17 and older will be able to choose to have unfiltered access.

Reporter Pam Brice: 425-339-3439 or brice@heraldnet.com.

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