In response to advances in technology and the changing needs of the community, the Bear Lake County Library District endeavors to develop collections, resources, and services that meet the cultural, informational, recreational, and educational needs of the Bear Lake County community in a timely and accurate manner. The Bear Lake County Library District does not monitor and has no control over the information accessed through the Internet. We cannot be held responsible for its content. Library users access the Internet at their own discretion and they are solely responsible for any access points they reach. As with other library materials, supervision or restriction of a child’s access to the Internet IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE PARENT OR LEGAL GUARDIAN, NOT THE STAFF OF THE LIBRARY. Parents are advised to supervise their children’s Internet sessions. The Library will treat information accessed on the computers as confidential. Requests for disclosure of information will be honored only when required by local, state or federal law. (Idaho Code 9-340) Computer users will reaffirm this agreement each time they use the public access computers.
INTERNET TRAVELER’S ADVISORY
Not all sources on the Internet provide accurate, complete, or current information. You need to be a good information consumer, questioning the validity of the information you find. Users of electronic systems should be further aware that they cannot be secured and are vulnerable to unauthorized access and modification.
COPYRIGHT ISSUES
Material obtained or copied on this computer network is subject to copyright laws which govern the making of 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 definition of “Fair Use”. Violations of the copyright law or licensing agreements may subject you to an action for damages and/or an injunction.
Students researching topics for school should be sure to note addresses and network sites for citation in bibliographies.
PROCEDURES FOR USING THE INTERNET AND COMPUTERS
- You will have to sign in at the desk for each computer session. The only exception will be for a computer demonstration for class visits.
- The Internet computers will be available during regular library hours. Staff assistance is limited. The library has numerous books available about the Internet. If you have questions, these books should be able to help you.
- Use of the computers is on a first-come-first-served basis. A time limit of one hour per person per day is in effect. When you are advised that your time is up, you have five minutes to complete your session. Time may be extended if resources are available.
- The library’s computers may not be used for commercial purposes.
- Viewing of obscene materials is not allowed. This may cause a “hostile work environment: for our employees. It is prohibited by law as materials harmful or inappropriate for minors. Obscenity will be determined according to Supreme Court ruling using a three-part test. To be obscene, (1) the average person, applying contemporary community standards must find that the work, taken as a whole, appeals to prurient interests. (2) The work must depict or describe, in a patently offensive way, sexual conduct as specified in the applicable statues, and (3) the work taken as a whole must lack serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value.Child Pornography may be determined using a slightly less rigorous test. To be child pornography, the work must involve depictions of sexual conduct specified in the applicable statutes and use images of children below a specified age.
Materials :harmful to minors” include descriptions or representations of nudity, sexual conduct, or sexual excitement that appeal to the prurient, shameful or morbid interest of minors, are patently offensive to prevailing standards in the adult community as a whole with respect to what is suitable materials for minors and lack serious literary, artistic, political or scientific value for minors.
If these images appear on the screen of the workstation you are using, the Library Director, or the staff person in charge at the time will terminate your computer privileges..
- If you need to send an e-mail, please set up a private account with a free e-mail service. You are not allowed to use the library’s e-mail account.
- You may NOT use your own software programs on any of the Bear Lake County Library Districts computers. We have received viruses in the past.
- It is not acceptable to use Internet access for any purpose which violates U.S. state, or local laws, to transmit threatening, obscene, or harassing materials, or to interfere with or disrupt network users, services or equipment. Disruptions include, but are not limited to: Distribution of unsolicited advertising, hacking, propagation of computer worms and viruses, and using the network to make unauthorized entry to any other machine accessible via the network.
- Violators of this policy may lose computer privileges, and possibly their library privileges. Illegal acts involving Library computing resources may also be subject to prosecution by local, state, and federal authorities.
- Anyone making changes to any of the software or hardware settings MAY lose their computer privileges permanently.
- The Bear Lake County Library has placed the public access computers on work carrels. Please keep in mind that these carrels do not offer the users much privacy and that other persons may be able to see what you are doing. Users are not allowed to harass or intimidate other users by watching over their shoulders to view what others are doing on the computers.
- The only cost to use the library’s computers is for a printout. Black and white printouts are five cents per page. Color printouts are fifty cents per page. Prompt payment will be expected at the time the materials are printed..
- The library reserves the right to limit the number or patrons using a single computer at one time. If more than one person is using the computer, each person must be signed in.
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 experience, 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.
- encourage children to use sites recommended on the library’s homepage and counsel them 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 to never give out personal information (name, address, password, telephone number, school name, or credit card information) online.
- teach children to be good online consumers. As with print information, consider the source, date and accuracy of online information.
- instruct children that making plans to meet your internet buddies in real life is usually a really bad idea how people are in real life can be very different from how they are online. If they decide to do it anyway, have a parent help make the plans and attend with them.
- instruct children to never open up e-mails, files or web pages that you get from people you don’t really know or trust.
LIMITATION OF LIABILITY
All patrons who wish to use the Library’s computer equipment are required to sign and date the following “Limitation of Liability”.
Limitation of Liability
The undersigned acknowledges that he/she has read and understands the Bear Lake County Library Computer and Internet Use Policy. The undersigned further acknowledges and agrees that the Bear Lake County Library assumes no liability for any loss or damage to the user’s data or for any damage or injury arising from invasion of privacy in the user’s computer accounts, programs, or files.
If I am also applying for Bear Lake County Library District and Computer Use cards on behalf or a minor or minors, I hereby assume responsibility for the Internet and computer use. Please list the names of minor
children.__________________________________________________________
___________________________________
Printed Name
___________________________________
Signature
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Date
Have fun exploring the Internet, but remember that many times you will find the specific information you need right here, in our books, periodicals and CD-ROM databases. This policy was approved by the Bear lake County Library Board of Trustees. THE BOARD RESERVES THE RIGHT TO MODIFY THIS POLICY AT ANY TIME.