BPL Complaint & Censorship Records • MuckRock

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Communications

From: Lukas Knight

10/05/2015

Subject: None

To Whom It May Concern:

Pursuant to the Massachusetts Public Records Law, M.G.L. c.66, §10, I hereby request the following records:

Copies of written and electronic complaints and challenges for removal, reclassification, or other reconsideration of publications including books, magazines, movies, websites (e.g. filtered from library computers), or other media from January 1, 2015, to present, as well as records, petitions, and correspondence related to these challenges.

I also request that, if appropriate, fees be waived as we believe this request is in the public interest, as suggested but not stipulated by the recommendations of the Massachusetts Supervisor of Public Records. The requested documents will be made available to the general public free of charge as part of the public information service at MuckRock.com, processed by a representative of the news media/press and is made in the process of news gathering and not for commercial usage.

I expect the request to be filled in an accessible format, including for screen readers, which provide text-to-speech for persons unable to read print. Files that are not accessible to screen readers include, for example, .pdf image files as well as physical documents.

In the event that fees cannot be waived, I would be grateful if you would inform me of the total charges in advance of fulfilling my request. I would prefer the request filled electronically, by e-mail attachment if available or CD-ROM if not.

Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter. I look forward to receiving your response to this request within 10 calendar days, as the statute requires.

Sincerely,

Lukas Knight

From: MuckRock.com

10/20/2015

Subject: None

To Whom It May Concern:

I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information request, copied below, and originally submitted on Oct. 5, 2015. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed.

Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.

From: Kirrane, Deborah

10/20/2015

Subject: Public Records Law Request: BPL Complaint & Censorship Records

Please allow this email to serve as confirmation that the Boston Public Library is in receipt of your October 5, 2015 public records request in which you ask that the Boston Public Library, pursuant to 950 CMR 32.06, M.G.L. Chapter 66, section 10, provide the following:

(1) Copies of written and electronic complaints and challenges for removal, reclassification, or other reconsideration of publications including books, magazines, movies, websites (e.g. filtered from library computers), or other media from January 1, 2015, to present, as well as records, petitions, and correspondence related to these challenges.
This office is in the process of identifying and gathering material relevant to your request. I will be in further contact with you shortly as this process continues. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me. Thank you again for your email.

_____________________________________
Deborah A. Kirrane
Clerk of the Board
Boston Public Library
700 Boylston Street | Boston, MA 02116
o: 617.859.2370 | m: 617.960-7964
www.bpl.org<http://www.bpl.org/> | dkirrane@bpl.org
Twitter<http://www.twitter.com/bplboston> | Facebook<http://www.facebook.com/bostonpubliclibrary> | Flickr<http://www.flickr.com/photos/boston_public_library/> | Catalog<http://bostonpl.bibliocommons.com/>

From: Kirrane, Deborah

10/20/2015

Subject: RE: Public Records Law Request: BPL Complaint & Censorship Records

Dear Mr. Knight:

When you have a chance, could you please call me? I wish to further discuss with you the Freedom of Information Act request referenced below. My telephone number is (617) 859-2370. I look forward to hearing from you. Thank you.

From: Kirrane, Deborah

10/20/2015

Subject: RE: Public Records Law Request: BPL Complaint & Censorship Records

Dear Mr. Knight:

I will be back in my office tomorrow morning (Wednesday) and look forward to hearing from you. Thank you.

From: Kirrane, Deborah

10/22/2015

Subject: RE: Public Records Law Request: BPL Complaint & Censorship Records

Dear Mr. Knight:

I am looking forward to hearing from you regarding your recent FOIA request in an effort to discuss clarification of materials sought and cost. Is there, perhaps, another way to contact you regarding your recent FOIA request?

From: Lukas Knight

10/22/2015

Subject: None

Email correspondence in this manner would be the optimal medium of exchange - if that would be both possible and convenient with respect to your end of things. Thanks for your time and enthusiastic follow ups!

From: Kirrane, Deborah

10/22/2015

Subject: Boston Public Library

Dear Mr. Knight:

A preliminary search of the materials requested in your Freedom of Information Act request has resulted in one email questioning the Boston Public Library's Urban Fiction collection, and approximately 1,100 emails concerning pornography web sites. Due to the subject matter, I had hoped to speak with you and determine whether you had concerns about receiving such a large amount of material which may be offensive to some. Kindly note that given the amount of emails, the BPL expects it will take four weeks to review and redact any personal information from this material at a cost of $968 (.88 per email).

Please let me know how you wish to proceed. Thank you.

From: Lukas Knight

10/26/2015

Subject: None

I was more interested in information concerning requests to ban classic literary fiction and the like; however, based on your response, it seems as if this is relatively rare in comparison to requests to restrict access to pornography on BPL computers (am I wrong to assume the complaints regard use of computers on the Library premises?). Moving forward, I don't wish to saddle the BPL staff with the burden of wading through such a large volume of complaints regarding access to pornography. If there were to be a uniform response to these complaints that the BPL issues, I would be interested in perhaps just an example of that - if such a a thing existed. It is my understanding that in spite of the CIPA necessitating the blocking of offensive material from children in order for libraries to receive federal funding, if an adult patron wishes to view such material, they cannot be barred from doing so. Given that the cast majority of complaints regard pornography, I would like refine my request to include the policy of the Boston Public Library in relation to access to pornography (and any internal correspondence regarding said policy), as well as any standard responses to complaints regarding pornography accessed at the library that BPL staff may issue. Thanks again!

From: Kirrane, Deborah

10/26/2015

Subject: RE: Public Records Law Request: BPL Complaint & Censorship Records

Dear Mr. Knight:

Pursuant to your request, kindly see the Boston Public Library’s Internet Use Procedures and Guidelines at: http://www.bpl.org/general/policies/internet_pol.htm.

Thank you.

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