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North
Scituate Public Library |
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INTERNET USE
POLICY
Purpose:
The North Scituate Public Library (the
"Library") recognizes that within the Scituate community there are
groups and individuals with diverse interests, backgrounds and needs.
The Library further recognizes and emphasizes that the public library is
an institution of a democratic society and was established to serve all of the
people in a community.
Electronic information and networking is a new and
very rapidly developing area of public and private activity.
The Library recognizes that these developments pose new challenges as
well as new opportunities for the Library Board, the Library staff, and Library
users and their families. The
Library believes that these challenges and opportunities are best addressed by
adherence to the fundamental principles of traditional library use and the
principles of a free society.
Responsibilities
of the Library:
Congress and the courts have recognized that there is
no single organization to govern, control, or select information for the
Internet. Because of this freedom
of information, the breadth of information on the Internet, the unstructured and
unregulated nature of the Internet, and the unreliable state of filtering, the
North Scituate Public Library cannot control the content of resources available
on the Internet. Access:
The Library does not select the material on the
Internet, and has no means or statutory authority to assure that only
constitutionally protected material is available on the Internet.
The Library adheres to the American Library
Association's stance regarding access to electronic information, services and
networks: "Electronic information, services and networks provided directly
or indirectly by the library should be equally, readily and equitably accessible
to all library users . . . Some information accessed electronically may not meet
a library's selection or collection development policy.
It is, therefore, left to each user to determine what is appropriate.
Parents and legal guardians who are concerned about their children's use
of electronic resources should provide guidance to their own children . . .
Libraries and librarians should provide access to information presenting all
points of view. The provision of
access does not imply sponsorship or endorsement." (Access
to Electronic Information, Services and Networks: an Interpretation of the
Library Bill of Rights, 1996).
The Library's Internet Use Agreement further provides
that:
· Users may
not make any changes in the set-up or configuration of the Library's computer
system hardware or software.
· Users may
not modify or gain access to the Library's computer system files, passwords or
data.
· Users may
not seek unauthorized access to any computer system or network.
· Instant
messaging, chat rooms and news groups are not available on the Library's
Internet terminals.
· Users may
not use personal software on the Library's Internet terminals.
· Internet
terminals are available to users in half-hour blocks of time, but users are
limited to no more than one hour of access per day.
Library patrons may reserve time slots for Internet terminal use one day
in advance.
· No more
than two people shall be allowed at any given Internet terminal at a time.
· Users may
print materials off of the Internet at a cost to the user to be posted in the
library.
· Users may
download information off of the Internet onto floppy disks.
Blank floppy disks are available for purchase at the Library's
circulation desk at a cost to the user.
· Misuse or
abuse of computer or Internet terminal access may result in the loss of a
patron's Internet use privileges at the Library and/or the imposition of damage
charges if applicable. Confidentiality:
The North Scituate Public Library upholds the right
of confidentiality and privacy for all Library users. In order to protect the privacy of the user and the interests
of other library patrons, the Library will manage access to the Internet by
judicious placement of the terminals, and other appropriate means as determined
by the Library staff and Board of Trustees.
Users are urged to respect the sensibilities of
others when accessing information that may reasonably be offensive to someone
else. However, absolute privacy for
patrons using electronic resources in the Library cannot be guaranteed.
There exists a possibility of inadvertent viewing by other patrons,
either by watching the user's screen, or because a user may leave the screen
unattended. Responsibilities
of Users:
The Internet is a global entity with a highly diverse
user population and information content. Although
the Internet provides users with a wide array of excellent information, it also
contains information that may be inaccurate, outdated, or personally offensive.
Library patrons use it at their own risk.
A good information consumer evaluates the validity of information found.
Use of Internet resources carries with it a responsibility to evaluate
the quality of the information accessed.
The availability of information does not constitute
endorsement of the content by the North Scituate Public Library.
Access, use, or dissemination of information
via the Internet in the Library is the responsibility of the user.
In the case of minors, it is a joint responsibility of the user and the
parent or guardian. Supervising
Children's Use:
The public library, unlike schools, does not serve in
loco parentis (in place of a parent). Librarians cannot act in the place of
parents in providing constant care and supervision of children as they explore
the Internet. The responsibility
for what minors read or view on the Internet rests with parents or guardians.
The following are recommended guidelines for parents
and guardians to ensure that children have positive online experiences, whether
at home or in the Library.
· Use the
Internet as a family. Join your
children in Internet exploration.
· Explore
the wide range of available information and tell your children about sites you consider inappropriate for them.
· Counsel
children to avoid sites you consider unsuitable.
· Provide
guidelines for your children on the amount of time they spend online, just as
for television viewing.
· Instruct
children NEVER to give out personal information (name, address, password,
telephone number, credit card number, etc.) online.
· Teach
children to be good online consumers.
As
with print information, consider the source, date, and accuracy of online
information.
As it does with other library resources, the Library will provide training on electronic resources. It will also make information available to help parents and guardians in their efforts to exercise their rights and responsibilities regarding their own children's use of electronic resources.
(Approved by the North Scituate Public Library Board of
Trustees 9/11/02, revised and approved 10/2003, revised and approved 5/2004 for
implementation as of 7/1/2004 ) |