Exclusive video appears to show explicit material viewed on public computers at Haverstraw library
Police are looking into the reports as concerns grow over visibility near the children’s section.
Police in Haverstraw say they are investigating after an exclusive video obtained by News 12 appears to show people viewing sexually explicit material on public computers at the King’s Daughters Public Library.
The images, sent in by a tipster, appear to show individuals accessing adult content on computers located in open areas of the library.
News 12 went to the library to see the setup firsthand and observed that some computer stations are positioned in plain view, including one located near the children’s section, raising concerns about what other patrons could be exposed to.
A female patron who had just left the library told News 12 that she saw a man inside viewing similar material Thursday morning and reported it to staff.
“I just walked out and on the screen was a website with a woman who was shirtless,” she said. “It was really uncomfortable.”
A short time later, police arrived at the library.
Haverstraw Police Chief John Gould tells News 12 the issue is now on their radar and that officers plan to meet with library officials to better understand how this is happening.
In a statement, a library spokesperson said, "Any patron on a public computer found to be violating our internet use policy is immediately notified of the non-compliance and removed from computer access.
"It's not appropriate at all. I think the library should take better precautions making sure that stuff is not allowed. If you want to do that on your own time – that’s cool. Use your own personal phone, use your own personal computer," the witness said.
A copy of the library's internet use policy can be found on its website.
