Library computers need restrictions

Today I finally had the chance to tour the beautiful Moorpark Library. The staff was so helpful and gave us new cards and welcomed me and my young daughter. We looked at all the great books and all the junior and high school students that appeared to be working hard on research projects.

They were using the wonderful computers at the front of the library. When my daughter walked by she said, "Mom, most of them are on MySpace, and why are they looking at pictures of people holding big guns?"

Well, I was shocked at what is in view of my elementary-aged daughter. This is a public library, and these kids either were dropped off at the library or had transportation, and they could not and were not being monitored.

When I approached an employee they said that they were powerless to do anything about the sites that these children were going to because they had their parents' permission to use the computers, and it would be considered censorship. My daughter got an eyeful today, and it was not of books and colorful posters- it was of half-naked people on websites, rappers with guns and other things I cannot mention.

Another employee told me just last week a student printed out child pornography (when they print out things it gets printed out at the main desk, and you pick it up there). Of course no one claimed it, and all the employees were shocked, and no one witnessed who the disgusting culprit was.

This is a crime! I feel that we need to limit the use of the computers in the libraries for research, book searches as well as content appropriate for all viewers. I am very against censorship and feel that every type of books or movies may be out there, but it is my choice what I show to my children. I can shut off the TV or close the book or monitor websites in my home, but in a public library?

If there is a book, website, movie, picture I do not want my children to see I enforce that, but I felt helpless when this was out in public view, and the employees at the libraries (most of whom are volunteers) have their hands tied. They have gone to city officials but to no avail, citing once again censorship.

We need to address this so everyone feels comfortable in our beautiful public library. Lisa Padilla Moorpark