This is clearly a situation of throwing the baby out with the bathwater. There is nothing inherently inappropriate with the use of social websites, no more than there is anything inherently wrong with using e-mail or speaking. This is a problem of patrons being abusive. They are the problem, not MySpace or Facebook.

The problem with taking a hard line with problem patrons is that it is the very staff who are not getting the support they need who must enforce the new hard line rules. Restricting access across the board takes the big bulls-eye off of these staff, since the decision is out of their hands.

Is it the correct decision? Probably not. Is it an understandable decision? Absolutely yes. After all, access to Facebook and MySpace is fairly inconsequential in comparison to the ability to feel comfortable and safe. It’s not just the staff who are affected by this kind of problem, and being a parent, I would not want my kids darkening the door of a library where this kind of problem was going on unchecked.

Measures such as this actually could work as a very effective first step towards a proper solution. Remove access for everyone to let everyone know how serious the situation is… then, after a period of time, reintroduce access on a provisional basis along with a code of conduct. Let patrons know that access will be removed again if the problems recur. Leverage the power of social pressure.

Beyond this, though… if this kind of thing is going on, it’s a clear sign that the library really needs some extra training and resources in handling problem teens and other problem patrons. There will always be a next big thing that they’re going to get all worked up over, and in the long term, their ability to get things banned across the board could even become some kind of power trip.

Best wishes to the staff who are in this situation. It’s not a good one. Maybe we should all be taking this conversation to your administrations to let them know that they need to get on the ball!