What History?

Recently, I was asked to sit in on a review committee for a book that was being challenged in one of our libraries. The book was the graphic novel version of Howard Zinn's A People's History of the United States. The formal complaint that was somewhat legitimate (the rest was a big, messy rant) was that it was too extreme in its socialist viewpoints and that the illustrations were to graphic and should be removed from the shelves.
Interesting....
So I put on my professional cap and enjoyed the 4 hours of paid time that I was given to read the title and respond to the complaint. After all the hooplah, my basic stance was that the library provides a forum for all opinions and political views and it is up to the patrons to make their own decisions. The title was located in one of the adult sections of the library, so I had no issue with the illustrations.
Looking back, I am not sure if that was me speaking or just the version of me that I wanted the patron who was going to read my recommendation to see. I am certain of what I decided about the title because I am certain about the principles that guide me as a librarian and it fell in line with the instruction that we have received.

A bit more direct application can be seen here
I was the librarian who "busted" this individual. I was the librarian who testified in court as to the images that I saw on his computer. I called 911. I called our executive director and attorney. I watched as the computer was taken out of the library after the proper court order had been secured and any other information regarding any other patrons who had used that computer that day was secured as well.

I don't think that there is a lot of instruction that can prepare you to deal with this type of situation. We do NOT monitor computer use. It was pure happenstance and I was helping a patron next to this individual when I unintentionally noticed the images on the screen.
For me, these two situations are what make the principle of intellectual freedom so extraordinary and dynamic - does an individual lose his right to privacy in a public space when he/she violates certain laws? The questions could flow forever and I will be the first person to defend an individual's right to privacy in the library, but this situation has me thinking.....where is that line?