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March 18, 2008

Librarian fired for reporting porn viewing patron?

This story comes from the Visalia Times-Delta (CA) where a librarian, Brenda Biesterfeld, claims she was terminated for reporting to police a patron who was viewing child pornography. The library denies the reporting is the cause of her termination. Another point of contention in the story is the amount of training Biesterfeld received regarding patrons on the internet and the issue that the library, according to the article, is refusing to turn over the library employee manual to see what the proper steps should have been at the library. (In the early stages here I want to stress most of these are allegations)

Of the many legal questions that come out this a couple jump out: assuming pornography is allowed at the library, it's not at mine, is there a difference in "regular" pornography and child pornography in a library; should a library have to turn over its employee manuals since they are (in this case) a public institution; and what should a librarian do if their boss tells them to do something that may be illegal (not reporting child pornography when one see's it).

We do welcome comments if you would like chime in. [BB]

March 18, 2008 in News | Permalink

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Comments

If someone was viewing child pornography - that is a crime and she has an obligation to report it. In my opinion she has a great case for wrongful termination and her lawyer through discovery will get the documents she needs. However, she better be sure of what she saw.

Posted by: msg | Mar 18, 2008 9:19:11 AM

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