INTERNET/COMPUTER SAFETY POLICY

CROSBY COUNTY LIBRARY

PURPOSE

The Crosby County Public Library (CCL) provides access to the Internet as one means of fulfilling its mission to “address the informational, educational and recreational needs of all individuals”.  All Internet resources accessible through the CCL are provided equally to library internet/computer patrons, non-residents, adults and minors as described in this document with the understanding that it is the individual user's and/or guardian's responsibility to demonstrate judgment, respect for others and appropriate conduct while using CCL resources and facilities.

Internet computers will not be used by anyone, including minors, for illegal activity, to access illegal materials, or to access materials that by local community standards would be objectionable.  Viewing of nudity or sexual conduct is prohibited and will result in loss of computer use privileges.  In addition, minors are prohibited from accessing materials considered to be "harmful to minors".  Library staff will enforce Rules of Conduct. Failure to comply with Rules of Conduct could result in loss of Internet/computer use privileges. Parents are responsible for their minor children's use of the CCL's resources and facilities.

DISCLAIMER

The CCL cannot control the content of resources available on the Internet and cannot be held responsible for its content. The Internet offers open access to information, ideas and commentary from around the world in an unregulated medium. As such, it offers access to a wealth of material that is personally, professionally, and culturally enriching to individuals of all ages, but also enables access to some material that some may find offensive, disturbing and/or illegal, inaccurate or incomplete. The availability of information does not constitute endorsement of the content by the CCL.  Internet connections at CCL are being filtered. Certain web sites are blocked at the direction of the filtering system. Removal of the filter is at the discretion of library personnel upon the request of an adult library patron The Internet, as an information resource, enables the CCL to provide information beyond the confines of its own collection. Library users use it at their own risk. Use of lnternet resources carries with it a responsibility to evaluate the quality of the information accessed. Use of information via the Internet in the CCL is the responsibility of the user. In the case of minors, it is a joint responsibility of the user and the parent or guardian. Public libraries, unlike schools, do not serve in place of a parent. Librarians cannot act in the place of parents in providing constant care and supervision of minors as they explore the Internet. The responsibility for what minors read or view on the Internet rests with parents or guardians.

PRIVACY

The CCL seeks to protect the First Amendment rights of its patrons and their individual right to privacy.  However, Internet users must be sensitive to the fact that workstations are in public areas and, therefore, images on the screen are subject to view by a wide audience. Patrons are urged to respect the sensibilities of others when accessing information that may be offensive to other patrons, however, absolute privacy cannot be guaranteed.

Patrons are cautioned that the Internet is not a secure environment. Personal information included in all transactions, files and communications may be subject to unauthorized access by others.  The CCL respects the confidentiality of patrons using its Internet resources and will only release library records as required by law or for CCL's operations.

ACCEPTABLE USE

Only adult library patrons are eligible to sign an Internet/Computer Safety Policy Registration thereby agreeing to abide by the terms and conditions of this policy for themselves and any minor children in their legal care. For the purpose of this policy, a minor is anyone under the age of 18. Minors 12 and under must be accompanied at the computer by a parent or legal guardian. Minors 13 through 17 years of age must have signed parental consent to access the lnternet.   Patrons, including minors, are warned that other individuals may obtain unauthorized access to personal information and/or may misrepresent themselves. Patrons, including minors, are advised not to share personal identification information to unknown or otherwise unidentified sources such as chat rooms and/or email.

The CCL's Internet access computers may not be used by ANY patron to access inappropriate or illegal materials, including but not limited to material of an obscene nature or child pornography.  Viewing of nudity or sexual conduct is prohibited and will result in loss of computer use privileges.  In addition, minors are prohibited from accessing materials considered to be "harmful to minors".     .

The CCL's Internet access computers may be used to access information, except as otherwise specified as unacceptable, from a variety of sources. The patron is the selector of the material accessed and is therefore the responsible party. The patron is responsible for complying with all restrictions governing access to specific sites. Any fees or monetary costs incurred are the responsibility of the patron, not the CCL.   In the case of minors, fees are the responsibility of the parent or guardian. In no event shall the CCL have any liability for lost profits or for any direct or indirect, special, punitive or consequential damages or any liability to any third party.

RULES OF CONDUCT

I) Internet computers will not be used for illegal activity, to access illegal materials, or to access materials that by local community standards would be objectionable. (Illegal materials include, but are not limited to, obscenity and child pornography as defined in U.S. Code Title 18 and State Penal Code Chapters 41 and 43). Access by minors to materials deemed "harmful to minors" is prohibited. Library Administration reserves the right to determine, based on community standards, materials considered to be "harmful to minors".  Viewing of nudity or sexual conduct is prohibited.

2) Installation and downloading of software, games and/or music or modification of software is PROHIBITED.  Users will not change the screensaver or make any other modifications.  User will not shut the computer down.

3) Users will respect copyright laws and licensing agreements. Materials obtained or copied on the Internet may be subject to laws that govern making reproductions of copyrighted works. A work protected by copyright may not be copied without permission of the copyright owner unless the proposed use falls within the legal definition of “Fair Use". Internet users are responsible for compliance with all international, national and state laws governing copyright materials.

4) Users, including minors, will not make any attempt to misuse the computer. Misuse includes, but is not limited to, using the computer for illegal activities: hacking into the library computer

 system or any other computer system: damaging or attempting to damage computer equipment

 or software, interfering with systems operations, integrity or security: gaining unauthorized access    to another person's files: sending harassing messages to other computer users: altering or   attempting to alter the library computer’s settings and violating copyright laws and software licensing agreements.  Misuse of the computer may result in loss of computer privileges, potential loss of library privileges and possible prosecution.  Damages resulting from the misuse are the responsibility of the user or in the case of minors, the parent or guardian.

5) Prompt payment is required by users who incur charges for printing.

6) Users must sign up to use the Internet on a next-available-computer basis. Computers will not be "reserved" for persons who are not in the immediate vicinity when their name is called, and telephone reservations will not be taken.

7) Computer sessions will be limited to one 90 minute session per day, unless otherwise authorized by the Librarian in charge.

8) Users will end their session and leave the computer when asked to do so by authorized Library staff, even if they have not completed their access session.

9) Users will respect the privacy of other library users and will refrain from attempting to view or read material being used by others. Users are prohibited from the unauthorized disclosure, use, or dissemination of personal information of others. Users are prohibited from misrepresenting his or herself to others. Users, including minors, are warned that other individuals may obtain unauthorized access to personal information and/or may misrepresent themselves.  The Library does not guarantee the safety or security of any online transaction including credit card transactions.

10) By mutual agreement, two persons may share one access session as long as their behavior or conversation does not disturb other users or Library staff.

TERMINATION OR PROHIBITION OF USER ACCESS

When Library staff believes that the user has failed to comply with the Internet Safety Policy and/or the Rules of Conduct, the Library staff is authorized to terminate any user’ s access session or to prohibit a user from subsequent access sessions for a minimum of two weeks from the date of informing the user of that action or until the next regularly scheduled Crosby County Library Board meeting. After a decision by the Crosby County Library Board, a computer/Internet user may be permanently barred from Internet access from the library.  Users are advised that due process will be used to handle violations of an illegal nature, including criminal prosecution, if necessary. Also, computer use privileges may be terminated for library patrons with overdue library books/materials.