The viewing of Internet pornography is forbidden.

Just when you think that the world can't get any crazier. . . In 2006, two members of the Montgomery County, MD Homeland Security Department walked into a public library, announced that viewing internet pornography was illegal and challenged what one patron was viewing online. 

A librarian intervened and escorted the men to a work area. 

They believed they were enforcing a "sexual harassment" policy. Really. They left after police were called. How did the county respond? 

"Later that afternoon, Montgomery County's chief administrative officer, Bruce Romer, issued a statement calling the incident "unfortunate" and "regrettable" -- two words that bureaucrats often deploy when things have gone awry."

I'm not even sure where to go with this. It's so ridiculous on so many levels. I can't imagine that the greatest security threat to Maryland is someone viewing pornography at the library. Is that what the post -9/11 era has become? If the terrorists can view porn then the terrorists win? I'm certain that the $3.6 million dollars a year that is spent on the county's Homeland Security department could be spent somewhere else. 

 The library system in Montgomery County does not use filtering software (good for them)  and instead, asks patrons to be considerate of others. "Privacy screens" are available if someone is offended. I think that this is a most reasonable policy. The article explains that while a library is a workplace, it is also a public place so the US Constitution prevails. What the public chooses to view on library computers does not equal sexual harassment. 

Barr, C. (2006, February 17). Policing porn is not part of job description [Electronic version]. The Washington Post, pp. B08. Retrieved March 30, 2008 from http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/02/16/AR2006021602066.html