BIRMINGHAM, Ala. from www.courthousenews.com – – Patrons of the public library watch pornography of all sorts, a library assistant says; sometimes they masturbate, and when she’s tried to stop it they have followed her around and screamed at her.

She says her bosses blew off her complaints of the “sexually hostile work environment” and the “severe, pervasive, unwelcomed and offensive obscene and pornographic materials,” so she sued the city and its Public Library Foundation.

Barbara Ann Wilson, a library assistant III, claims the defendants “have installed computers in various parts of the library in such a manner as to make it difficult, if not impossible, for staff and/or other patrons to avoid viewing the material displayed on the computer terminals.”

“The computers are routinely used to access obscene and pornographic materials,” she says in her federal complaint.

“The images displayed on the computer terminals are of an explicit sexual nature depicting heterosexual intercourse, homosexual acts, pictures of male and female genitalia, and apparent child pornography.

“During the course of her employment, the plaintiff has been subjected to a sexually hostile work environment which consists of severe, pervasive, unwelcomed and offensive obscene and pornographic materials on said computers.

“In addition, the plaintiff has been exposed to sexually aggressive comments, touching, including touching of her breasts, shoulders and buttocks and other conduct of a sexual nature by certain patrons of the library.

“Plaintiff has also been subjected to patrons who masturbate in the library in the presence of staff and other patrons, including children.

“The plaintiff has reported the above sexual misconduct to library management multiple times, both verbally and in writing.

“The defendants have completely failed to adequately address the sexually hostile work environment which, as a result of said failure, continues to exist at the downtown branch of the Birmingham Public Library.

Wilson claims that when she confronted patrons looking at pornography, and/or masturbating, the “patrons would become belligerent,” and she has been “stared at, screamed at, and followed around the library by patrons whom have engaged in said behavior.”

She says patrons have annoyed her with sexually aggressive comments and touched her breasts, shoulders and buttocks.

Despite her repeated reports of this “sexual misconduct,” the bosses ignored her complaints and it became “increasingly difficult” to go to work.

She seeks punitive damages for emotional distress, civil rights violations, sexual harassment and a hostile work environment.

She is represented by Adam Morel of Birmingham.