NEW YORK (WPIX)—
Have New York City libraries gone too far offering free "erotic" movies on demand? Should the budget-strapped system be charging for soft-core porn? That's the debate that's been raging since PIX 11's Greg Mocker revealed the little-known service.On the WPIX Facebook page, Mildred Washington took a shot at the libraries asking, "What the hell is wrong with these people?" Regina Banks chimed in: "One of the stupidest ideas I've ever heard." And Will-Ike Iverson joked, "LOL. The library is the new 42nd Street."
The popular New York website Gothamist picked up the story. On that site, one person called Mocker a "lame sensationalist." Along the same lines, Mocker received an email from viewer Sara Schrater asking if he would be "organizing a book and DVD burning of material that is deemed to be obscene by the people who's opinion you choose to be held higher than the rest of us?"
New York City Councilman Charles Barron wanted to warn parents that these movies could be accessed at home. He called on the library to trim this service if they're looking for things to cut from the budget.
A librarian from Queens wrote to Mocker saying she loved the piece on erotic downloads, adding "If only more people knew about it, I think that people would actually use the download service!"
A library spokeswoman says they will review and possible edit the descriptions of the movies. One flick is described on the Queens Public Library site as containing scenes of "ass signings." But the movies will remind available by logging onto library sites. The on-demand movies are purchased in a bundle from an outside company.
