Library Computer and Internet Policies – Effingham Community Library

LIBRARY COMPUTER POLICY

The Library is providing computers and making the Internet available to the public as an information and educational resource in support of our role as this community’s information and lifelong learning center.

Consistent with our mission and the professional principles of public librarianship, this Computer and Internet Use Policy affirms the safeguarding of First Amendment Rights, Intellectual Freedom, equity of access, confidentiality of information about users and their use of all library resources including electronic, and individual responsibility. The Library affirms the following principles and user rights as defined in the American Library Association’s Library Bill of Rights in Cyberspace:

Electronic information, services, and networks provided by libraries should be readily, equally, and equitably accessible to all library users.
Libraries and librarians should not deny or limit access to information available via electronic resources because of its controversial content or because of personal beliefs or fear of confrontation.
Information retrieved or utilized electronically should be considered constitutionally protected unless determined otherwise by a court with appropriate jurisdiction.
All Internet resources accessible through the Library are provided equally to all library users. Parents or legal guardians, not the Library or its staff, are responsible for the Internet information selected and/or accessed by their children. Parents, and only parents, are advised to supervise their children’s Internet usage.

Computer and Internet Policies

In the interest of serving all customers, the Library reserves the right to set time limits on any workstation.
A guest pass to use the computer and Internet can be given to out-of-town visitors.
Computers may not be reserved in advance.
Effingham Library computers do not allow the user to save documents or personal files to the hard drive. All documents that are saved must be saved to a disk or USB key-drive belonging to the user.
Library computers designated for public access may be used without charge, but a fee will be charged for each page printed.
Library staff is available at the public service desks to provide limited assistance in the use of computers and of the Internet. Staff may limit the amount of time spent in assisting a user in order to provide adequate support of all other library services. Patrons requiring more training than can be given at the public service desk are encouraged to schedule a training session by contacting the Library’s in house technician or the Library director.
In compliance with CIPA (Children’s Internet Protection Act) all Internet access is filtered. Adult patrons may request unfiltered access to the Internet when using the Library’s computers. The Library has 48 hours to acknowledge and honor the request.
The Library does not have the ability to give unfiltered access to the Internet for individuals using their own computer.
The Library will comply with all state and federal laws applicable to computer use and the Internet.
Patrons with unpaid service charges or overdue materials may be denied library computer privileges.
Misuse of library computers may result in the suspension or loss of the privilege to use them.
Children under the age of sixteen (16) must have a waiver signed by his/her parent/legal guardian in the presence of library staff before he/she may have access to the Internet.
Patrons under the age of ten should be accompanied by an adult present in the children’s department in order to use the children’s computers. Parent/caretaker should supervise children who are non-readers at all times while using a computer.

Acceptable Use of Computers and Internet

Only library provided software maybe used on the library’s computers. Software owned or supplied by users may not be installed or used on library computers.
Users may not alter or attempt to alter the setup of library computers.
Users must save their work on to a removable storage medium.
Computer programs are protected by copyright laws and must not be copied for personal use.
Users are asked to respect the privacy of other computer users. This includes not representing oneself as another user, not modifying passwords, not trying to gain access to someone else’s data or search history, and not “hovering” over others using the computers while waiting for their turn to use them.
The Library’s computers are set-up for optimal use by a single individual. However, in some cases, it may be important for two or more individuals to sit together at a single computer. Where space is limited, a maximum of two people may sit together at any one computer.
All users of the Internet are expected to use this library resource in a responsible and courteous manner, that is consistent with the purposes for which it is provided, and to follow all Internet-related rules, regulations and procedures established for its use including, but not limited to, those of the library.
The Library’s Internet access or computers may not be used for the following:

sending, receiving or viewing pornography or obscenity as defined by federal, state or local code;
sending, receiving or viewing obscene, pornographic, sexist, racist, hate or inflammatory messages;
unauthorized disclosure, use or dissemination of personal identification information of any other person (regardless of age) unless you are the legal guardian of that person;
copyright infringement;
uploading or downloading information, programs or viruses from the Internet, floppy disks, CD’s, DVD’s, or USB devices, for the purpose of illegal use, malicious intent, or to purposely harm any individual or entity;
hacking or gaining unauthorized access to or adversely affect another computer, system or network for illegal, malicious or harmful use;
sending spam, conducting phishing or other unlawful or fraudulent e-mail communication;
sending, receiving or viewing any other material or information that is considered illegal by federal, state, or local code.

Anyone engaging in these or other inappropriate or illegal uses of the Library’s Internet access will be asked to cease their inappropriate behavior and/or asked to leave the Library premises. Inappropriate use of the Library’s Internet access may be the cause for the revocation of his or her computer privileges, library privileges, and/or the use of the library system and its facilities. The Library Director, at her discretion, has the ability to determine appropriate action determined on the severity and nature of the situation. Illegal or criminal activity will be reported to the appropriate legal authorities.

Internet Safety Policy

The Library assumes no responsibility for any damages, direct or indirect, arising from its connections to the Internet. The Library makes no guarantee, either expressed or implied, with respect to the quality or content of the information available on the Internet. Not all the information available via the Internet is accurate, current or complete. Users are encouraged to be good information consumers by evaluating the validity of information accessed via the Internet.
Users are cautioned that ideas, points of view and images can be found on the Internet which are controversial, divergent and/or inflammatory. The provision of access does not mean or imply that the Library endorses or sanctions the content or point of view of any of the information or commentary which may be found on the Internet. Because the Internet is a vast and unregulated information network, it enables access to ideas, information, images and commentary beyond the confines of the Library’s collection, mission, selection criteria and collection development policies. Because of this and the fact that access points on the Internet can and do change often, rapidly and unpredictably, the Library cannot protect individuals from information and images which they might find offensive or disturbing.
Because the library computers on which the public can access the Internet are located in public areas which must be shared by library users of all ages, backgrounds, and sensibilities, individuals are asked to consider this when accessing potentially controversial information and images. Library staff cannot consistently and effectively monitor the public’s use of the Internet. Yet the Library reserves the right to ask individuals to discontinue the display of information and images which cause disruptions.
Users are cautioned that security in the electronic environment such as the Internet cannot be guaranteed. All transactions, files, and communication are vulnerable to unauthorized access and use and; therefore, should be considered public.
Parents and/or legal guardians are responsible for the Internet information selected and/or accessed by their children. Children who use the Internet unsupervised may be exposed to inappropriate or disturbing information and images. Parents are encouraged to discuss the use of the Internet in relation to family values and boundaries with their children and to monitor their children’s use of the Internet.

Disclaimer

The Library is not responsible for any damage done to computer users’ disks, data, hardware or software by any virus, which may leave or has been contacted on or through library equipment. Although the Library has installed virus protection software on its computers, it is always possible for a new virus to appear. Protection cannot be guaranteed.
The Library is not responsible of any damage done to computer users’ disks, data, hardware or software as a result of the malfunctioning of library hardware or software.

WIRELESS NETWORK POLICY

To use the Effingham Community Library’s wireless network (WiFi), patrons agree to comply with all of the following conditions:

I will comply with all state and federal laws and all Effingham’s Library policies and procedures, including the Computer Use and Internet Safety Policy.

I will not use the network in a way that disrupts the use of the network by others. This includes but is not limited to downloading large files and streaming audio or video in certain cases (e.g. excessive bandwidth and/or sound volume).

I understand Effingham Library’s wireless network uses filtering technology to comply with the Kansas Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA). This technology is not infallible and the Library cannot be held responsible for prohibited information that may be displayed or for useful information that may be blocked while filtering online access to visual depictions that are child pornography, harmful to minors, or obscene as described in the Computer Use and Internet Safety Policy. Disseminating or exhibiting obscene material is a crime within the state of Kansas (See K.S.A. 21-6401 as amended).

I will not plug a personal device into the Library’s computer network via an Ethernet/CAT5 cable.

I understand library staff must have my permission to provide any troubleshooting assistance for my personal device. If I give permission, library staff will not be held responsible for any damage to my device. There is no guarantee that a wireless connection can be made or maintained.

I understand the wireless service is not secure. Information sent from or to my personal device can be captured by anyone else with a wireless device and the appropriate software.

I understand the Effingham Library assumes no responsibility for the any loss, theft, or damage to data, personal equipment or software resulting from connection to the wireless network.

Effingham Library reserves the right to prohibit an individual from accessing the wireless network if that individual is violating any of the policies or guidelines of the Library.

Also must abide by all Effingham Community Library computer and internet policies.

Failure to comply with these laws will result in immediate termination of use of the library’s network, and /or termination of library privileges. Violations may be reported to law enforcement authorities if deemed necessary.

Effective Policy Date: June 16, 2015

Laptop Library Computer:

Laptops may be checked out for in library use only and may not be taken off the property.