Man Banned From Ela Area Public Library

The Ela Area Public Library Board banned a man from the library indefinitely for violating Internet access and behavior policies on five occasions by looking at pornography on the public computers.

“I don’t have tolerance for this at all, especially because he is not even a patron,” said Mary Beth Campe, executive director EAPL.

According to Campe, the man is a Wauconda library patron, but as a “library card holder, he can take out materials and use the Ela library.”

The man, whose identity was not revealed, first was banned for a month after being caught three times by library staff for looking at inappropriate material. Once his ban was lifted, “he came back and did it again,” said Campe.

He then was banned for a year from April 2008 through April 2009 for violating EAPL’s policies, according to Campe.

As it states in EAPL’s behavior policy:

For patrons accessing inappropriate Internet sites, it’s, “Three strikes and you’re out.” The first time, the patron will be directed to exit the site and warned that more incidents will lead to a loss of computer privileges. A staff member observing the patron in a second incident will remind the patron that he/she has been warned before and one more incident will mean loss of privileges for one month. If a patron is seen viewing inappropriate sites on a third occasion, the person will lose their library computer privileges for one month. If a patron is seen viewing inappropriate sites on a fourth occasion, the person will lose their library computer use privileges for three months. Any subsequent viewing of inappropriate sites may result in loss of library computer use or library privileges.

Since then, the man had not come into EAPL until recently and was caught a fifth time looking at pornography.

Campe immediately suspended his privileges until the board met June 21.

“I’m in agreement for total loss of privileges,” said board member Vicki Burger.

“We told him he had to be on computers we could monitor,” said Brenda Duff, assistant director. “He knew he was being observed by staff.”

Board member Kathy Caudill noted, “He had the opportunity to come to this board meeting and argue his case.”

A certified letter was sent to the man's home, notifying him that his library privileges have been revoked indefinitely.

Campe said if he shows up at the library, the staff can call the Lake Zurich Police Department and have him removed.

The library's behavior and Internet policies are published on the EAPL's website.