By Holli Gunnell

NORTH LOGAN-- Kids have been having their way with the computers in the North Logan Library lately.

According to Library Director Sue Randleman, kids getting access to and posting pornographic material as wallpaper on the library's computers has become a bit of a problem.

Despite filtering systems, which adequately meet criteria of the state regarding public computer terminals, kids seem to keep finding ways around them. Every once in a while the North Logan Library's terminals need to have fresh blocks put on them after a computer-savvy youth has found ways around the old one.

Randleman said she isn't sure how kids figure it out, but that it does happen. When it does happen, it causes quite a stir.

"A lot of it is just the shock of seeing it," she said. "One [of the library workers] called me, almost having a heart attack because all of the computers had pictures of naked girls as wallpaper."

When these incidents do occur, Randleman said the man to call is Casey Jones. Jones services 480 computers at Sky View High School. Randleman said that Jones says many of the images that sometimes pop up unexpectedly on the library's terminals are suspiciously similar to wallpaper appearing on the school's computers.

"If kids pull stunts there, they'll pull the same stunts here," she said. However, with 12 computers that give users access to the Internet, Randleman said problems like these are not as bad as they could be.

"Somehow someone will always find a way," she said. "It is mostly for shock."

The Library Board is getting set to re-examine the computer filtering policy to make sure it is completely up to date according to the state's standards. Grants from the state are given to the library for funding and programs, so meeting the criteria for the computers is essential to the survival of the library, said Randleman.

Since its opening in November 1999, the library has increased the number of books it shelves from 16,000 to 25,000. According to Randleman circulation is about 7,000 books per month, which is a lot for a small library.

Books are not the only available check out material offered by the library. With more than 1,000 videos in their collection the library offers a terrific alternative to Blockbuster or Hastings.

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