Article from the Sidmouth Herald 25 October.

User refuses to be brought to book over Library ban

A DEFIANT Sidford man this week said he would break a ban imposed on him to prevent him using 67 libraries in Devon for the next six months, and take Devon County Council to court.

Dr Stephen Wozniak, who has been running a steady campaign over the lack of privacy afforded to those using library computers, both in Sidmouth and other libraries, said local staff had also been told not to speak to him and council staff had been advised to treat his e-mails as 'junk mail".

When DCC failed to answer questions put to it by Dr Wozniak, a semi-retired consultant on scientific topics, about the installation and operation of the computers, he claims the council said it couldn't expend the time on the matter. He argues that the layout of the computers makes it impossible to conduct any private business, such as e-banking, without being overlooked.

Improved layout

"Computer screens can be seen by staff and casual onlookers. In many libraries a little thought could have produced a vastly better layout. The demand to use one's own library ticket to log into each session gives DCC unprecedented power to snoop on every action and interest of library users.

"I am going to sue the council in due course. All this nonsense could have been completely avoided. They will have to spend 50 times the amount of time now because of police and court involvement and it is all down to the attitude of refusing to take as a challenge the points put to them."

He says that because the council ignored his questioning he decided the only way any notice would be taken of him was if he "kicked up a hell of a fuss". This took place in Exeter Library when he ripped up some forms in front of staff.

"My robust approach was justified in my view to get the attention of these people. My campaign has been dictated by their refusal to answer in any way questions I put to them."

The decision by Lynne Osborne, head of Library and Information Services, to impose the ban - including 11 mobile libraries - was set out in a letter to Dr Wozniak last Tuesday from assistant county solicitor Tony Sweeney. Referring to the incident in Exeter, it says: "The council can have no confidence that you will behave in an appropriate fashion whilst on library premises in the future. Nowhere in the voluminous correspondence you have entered into with the council do you make any concession to modify your behaviour"

The ban, which will be reviewed next April, has been imposed under Byelaw 24 which covers the proper use of libraries.

Further action

Mr Sweeney adds: "The exclusion of anyone from library premises is a serious step which is not taken lightly. The council expect you to comply with what is in effect a ban from library premises. If you do not, then further action will be taken." He tells Dr Wozniak to write only to the council through its county solicitor as "you can expect no response if you write to other officers or to members."

Dr Wozniak also received a letter from chief executive Philip Jenkinson accepting that his behaviour was motivated by "concern for the public interest" but his behaviour was "offensive, arrogant and rude". Dr Wozniak said he had used the library computers, which have faster 'phone connections, to "bring myself into the internet age".

Librarian in charge at Sidmouth, Gill Spence, made no comment about the ban and a spokesman at DCC would only confirm the ban had been imposed.

Since moving to Sidford in 1997, Dr Wozniak has gained a reputation for taking on both the police and local government and investigating what he feels is "waste and misuse of resources by local officials".

Nothing much else to talk about in a small town at the weekend!

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