Englewood Public Library

NAME OF POLICY.………………………………………... Public Internet Service

ORIGINALLY APPROVED BY LIBRARY BOARD.…… November 11, 1997

REAPPROVED/REVISED BY LIBRARY BOARD…….. November 13, 2007


POLICY STATEMENT

The Englewood Public Library, in its role as an information provider to the community, makes available free Internet access to its users. The Internet is accessed by members of the public using their EPL library card that contains Internet access privileges on designated workstations located in both the adult and children’s area of the Library.

Having previously adopted the American Library Association’s “Library Bill of Rights” and related interpretative statements, and as a public institution founded to serve all residents in the community, the Library does not restrict access to its services and resources based on race, religion, national origins, gender, or social or political points of view which are considered Constitutionally-protected free speech.

The Library supports and encourages parents to determine the proper and appropriate use of Library resources, materials, and services for their respective underage children. As with all other Library materials and resources, parents are ultimately responsible for their child(ren)’s access to the Internet. Any restriction of a child or young adult to the Internet is the responsibility of that person’s parent or guardian, not the Library Staff. Given the ease and uncontrolled availability of sexually-explicit and/or other offensive materials on the Internet, written parental approval is therefore required in order for anyone under age 18 to access the Internet through a Library computer.

Given the constant growth and continued change of the Internet and given that no existing control system is completely perfect or fool-proof, the Library therefore cautions all Internet users that they may be inadvertently or accidentally exposed to certain areas which they find personally objectionable. In such cases, patrons are encouraged to report these occurrences to Library Staff.

The Library cannot control the content of the Internet and cannot be held responsible for its accuracy. The Englewood Public Library does not in any way support or endorse the illegal use of the Internet in any manner, including copyright infringement, access to or availability of obscenity or pornography, etc.

CONDITIONS AND TERMS OF INTERNET USE IN THE LIBRARY - Rules & Restrictions

The Englewood Public Library provides free public access to the Internet via designated terminals within the Library. Some of these terminals are located within the adult area and others are located within the Children’s area. All share a common laser printer located behind the Reference Desk.

Library Internet access is provided free for library-related learning, research, information, and entertainment purposes. All users of these and other Library resources/materials are expected to use them in a responsible manner consistent with the intended purposes for which they are provided and to follow the Library's basic rules and regulations as set forth in this and other Library policies.

Use of Library Card to Access Internet and Printer

All Library patrons wishing to use the Library’s Internet terminals must first acquire an EPL library card with Internet access privileges. This card remains the property of the Englewood Public Library, and those issued this card agree to immediately report its loss to Library Staff.

Patrons who possess this card agree to obey all Library rules and regulations, agree to use it only for their personal access and agree not to loan or give the card to another individual to use the Internet.

Patrons wanting to use the Internet or attached printer must have this card in their possession at the time they reserve a computer or pay for a printout. Library staff cannot override or make exceptions for those patrons who lose or forget to bring this card with them.

Inappropriate use or misuse of this card may result in the revocation of Internet access privileges and/or the loss of other Library privileges. Although the initial EPL card is free, there is a charge for replacement cards.

Procedures

Library patrons wishing to use the Internet must first register at a designated Library service desk.

All users over age 18 must sign and agree to abide by the rules as set forth in the Englewood Public Library’s “Acceptable Internet Use Agreement” form. Library users under age 18 must have their parent or guardian sign the same form.

Self-service registration for EPL’s public Internet terminals is for the day of use only, and no advance registrations will be accepted.

Registration for the majority of public Internet terminals is for a 30 minute period.

• If no one has reserved the use of this computer, the original patron can continue to use it beyond this 30 minute period.
• If another patron has reserved the use this computer, the computer will automatically log off the first patron.
• The first patron may then reserve a different terminal for that day, not to exceed 4 hours during a 24 hour period.

Registration for the “walk up” computers is for 15 minutes.

Registration for the “long term” research computers is for 2 hours.

Internet computers will provide users with two automatic warnings prior to ending their session.

Patrons should save their work once they receive the notices since the computer will automatically log them off at the end of their session, regardless of whether their information has been saved or not.

Individual computer time is limited to a total of four hours daily. It is the responsibility of parents, guardians or caregivers to determine what is appropriate for their own children.

Conditions of Use

Recognizing that certain material and information is more appropriate to particular age groups, the Library provides three distinct levels of Internet access from which its patrons may choose:

1. “Full” Internet Access – This level is unfiltered and unrestricted. It is for adults over age 18 or for those under age 18 whose parents so designate. Viewing of obscene sites on Library computers is not permitted. Sites containing graphic nudity should not be viewed in the presence of children. Accessing such sites via the Library’s computers may result in the loss of an individual patron’s Internet privileges.
2. “Filtered” Internet Access – This level is filtered to eliminate the majority of obscene and pornographic web sites, keeping in mind that no software filter is totally effective. It is for those adults over age 18 or those under 18 whose parents so designate. If a user feels that a particular site is blocked inappropriately, he/she may request Library Staff to unblock said site. At that time, Staff will (within reasonable time and workload limits) examine the site in question and make the determination if that site should remain blocked or be unblocked according to Library policy. It is usually not possible to unblock or block a particular website the same day.
3. “Restricted” Internet Access – This level provides a contained access to a limited number of “family friendly” web sites and is primarily for patrons age 12 and under.

The following areas are not available on the Library computers regardless of the filtering level:

• chat rooms
• newsgroups
• instant messaging

The Library reserves the right to change these examples as it finds necessary or appropriate.

Other Restrictions

Patrons may not bring software files or applications to load into Englewood Public Library’s Internet computers.

Tampering with computer hardware or software is prohibited and may result in suspension of a patron's computer privileges.

Patrons must pay for all of their printouts at time of printing.

Violation of Policy

Failure to use the Internet appropriately and responsibly as defined in this policy, and/or failure to comply with this or other Library rules may result in the suspension of Library privileges. Unacceptable use that is illegal may result in criminal prosecution as well.

Violators to the Library’s Internet rules will be asked by Library staff to either exit sites or to leave the Library. If a user subsequently has to be told a second time, he/she may lose future Internet access privileges.