Banning MySpace

Posted by Max on 30 August, 2007 in Academic Libraries, Library News, Public Libraries, Social Software

According to TampaBay’s 10, the Temple Terrace Public Library (FL) has banned the popular social software site MySpace as well as chatrooms and some blogs. They are looking at adding Facebook to the list of banned sites. On the other hand, there are libraries which have created MySpace accounts like:

Let’s hear from you: What do you think about banning social software sites like MySpace, Friendster, Facebook and the like from the public access computers? Use the comments to weigh in on this topic. And while you’re at it, click here to become a MySpace friend with SOLINET.

3 Comments on Banning MySpace

By Twistmyarm on 12 September, 2007 at 6:21 am

Our library system has banned MySpace and all social networking software. Chat was already banned. I understand the reasoning for banning MySpace (it was causing some disturbances and endangering library workers and patrons.) However, I don’t think Facebook poses any danger to anyone. Facebook is like the Mac of the social networking world and MySpace is like the PC. There are far less “dangerous” things or ads on Facebook than MySpace. It just seems more guarded. I personally wish no social networking was banned. I think that the library would do well to have its own MySpace and Facebook account.

By Max on 13 September, 2007 at 7:58 am

Thanks for your reply! This is a topic that definitely causes a lot of controversy.

By mark on 3 December, 2007 at 4:40 pm

I work at a public library where myspace is not banned. I dearly wish it was! It causes no end of trouble and hogs all our bandwidth. It is simply not fair that a patron who wants to look for a job or work on a resume or do some actual RESEARCH should have to wait behind some punk who can’t pull his face away from all the cute little pictures of his online girlfriends. It’s ridiculous!