Instead it's up to library staff to confront patrons if they visit inappropriate sites.

"We don't have software to stop patrons accessing porn," said State Library digital strategies manager Lloyd Sokvitne.

"We do have an 'acceptable use' policy that explicitly states that it is against that policy to access or display material that is offensive to others."

But library staff have told the Sunday Tasmanian that patrons have become abusive when approached and questioned about their use of the internet.

One junior member of staff said she was "dreading" having to confront anyone.

The State Library has more than 50 branches throughout the state and all have at least one computer with internet access.

All activity on the library's computers is logged and monitored.

When offensive material is accessed library staff have to inform the patron that they are in breach of the "acceptable use" policy.

Mr Sokvitne said confronting patrons abusing library policy was a normal and acceptable activity.

"It's just a part and parcel of the work that they do.

"People need to be held accountable for what they do in a public environment and our staff are trained to do it," Mr Sokvitne said.

"There will no doubt be cases where a particular experience will be unpleasant."

One of the ways libraries deal with the problem is by placing the computer terminals so the screens are exposed to other users and staff.

But the library is also aware that sometimes patrons need to access sensitive information.

"We try to place our PCs in an area so they're private but they're also able to be monitored," Mr Sokvitne said.

But he said making terminals too public led to other privacy issues.

"Say, if someone's been diagnosed with cancer and they don't want anyone to know about it," he said.

"It's always a bit of a balancing act.

"We can't guarantee absolute privacy because we want to make sure we can manage any possible abuse."

The State Library blocks access to most chatrooms and has time limits on most computers so terminals are not taken over for long-term chats or email sessions.

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