Internet Use Policy

To use a public Internet workstation at the Spring Green Community Library, you must read and accept the following Internet Use Policy. If you have any questions about the policy, please contact a librarian.

In fulfillment of its mission " . . .to provide quality materials and services which fulfill the educational, informational, cultural and recreational needs of the entire community . . . in both print and non-print collections. . .", the Spring Green Community Library provides Internet access to its users. The library further considers its endorsement of the Library Bill of Rights and the Freedom to Read documents to apply to the use of electronic information. The library also upholds public access to information in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution of the United States.

Disclaimer

The Internet offers access to ideas, information and commentary from around the world which can be personally, professionally and culturally enriching. However, not all sources on the Internet are accurate, complete or up-to-date. The Spring Green Community Library does not warrant information found on the Internet to be accurate, authoritative, factual, timely or useful for users’ purposes. If any user believes that information obtained via library PCs is inaccurate or offensive, the user should contact the original producer or distributor of the information.

The authority to determine what is illegal content rests with the courts as defined in Wisconsin and federal statutes.

Access, use, or dissemination of information via the Internet in the Spring Green Community Library is the responsibility of the user. In the case of minors (under 17 ), it is a joint responsibility of the user and the parent or guardian. Because parents or guardians may feel that information available through the Internet is not suitable for viewing by children in their care, supervision is advised.

Guidelines for Computer Use

All Internet resources available in the library are provided to each patron on a first-come, first-served basis during open library hours. Patrons may also reserve a computer.
The library limits users to 60 minutes per day in order to provide maximum access to all patrons.
Children eight years or younger must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. The child may not be left alone at the library.
The use of chat rooms is not allowed at the Spring Green Community Library. This protocol, along with Instant Messaging, is excluded as having little relevance to the library’s mission because the value of information communicated is diminished by uncertain authorship and lack of archival retrieval; the pace of real-time conversation encourages ill-considered and unsafe behavior; and both chat rooms and Instant Messaging are most likely to be implicated in harm to young people. Parents and guardians should provide children with guidelines on acceptable use of email.
To assure information access to all patrons, only one Internet station at a time can be used for games.
Persons who use the computers assume responsibility for the hardware and software during their use.
Internet users should be aware that they are working in a public environment shared by people of all ages and sensibilities. Therefore, the use of sound and visuals which might be disruptive to other library patrons is prohibited.
Violation of these guidelines will result in the loss of Internet privileges.

Supervising Children’s Use

The public library, unlike schools, does not serve in loco parentis (in place of a parent). Library staff cannot act in the place of parents in providing constant care and supervision of children as they explore the Internet. The Spring Green Community Library supports the right for each family to decide what is appropriate Internet use for their children. Parents or legal guardians are responsible for supervising their children’s Internet sessions and for letting their children know if there are materials, which they do not want them to access or use. Restriction of a child’s access to the Internet rests with the parent or legal guardian.

To ensure that children have positive online experiences, whether in the library or at home, it is recommended that parents and guardians instruct children NEVER to give out personal information (name, address, password, telephone number, credit card number) online.

Parents and children are encouraged to start their exploration of the Internet on the Spring Green Community Library’s homepage. The Summer Library Program pages also have seasonal web sites which are acceptable for children.

Parents can ensure a positive online experience for their children by:

Using the Internet as a family;
Encouraging the use of kid-friendly sites;
Establishing guidelines for the amount of time your child spends online;
Teaching children how to evaluate the information they find online;
Instructing children NEVER to give out personal information online;
Providing children acceptable use guidelines for email and chat rooms;
Informing children about sites you consider inappropriate for them.

The Spring Green Community Library will also provide training and assistance to parents to help them exercise their responsibilities regarding their children’s use of electronic resources. For more information on children and the Internet see Child Safety on the Information Highway and Teen Safety on the Information Highway jointly produced by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and Interactive Service Organization.

Legal and Acceptable Uses

People may use the library’s computers for legal purposes only. Users of all ages must abide by the following restrictions. Examples of unacceptable uses include, but are not limited to, the following: transmitting of threatening or harassing materials; libeling, slandering or maliciously offending others; not respecting the privacy of others by misrepresenting oneself as another user; attempting to modify or gain access to files, passwords, or data belonging to others; attempting to crash, degrade performance of, or gain unauthorized access to, the library’s computer system or networks; modifying or damaging equipment, software or data belonging to the library or other users; obstructing other people’s work by overuse of system resources; and exposing children to harmful materials. Sec. 948.11 of the Wisconsin Statutes, among other things, makes it a crime to expose children to pictures or images of nudity, sexually explicit conduct, or physical torture or brutality that appeal to the prurient, shameful or morbid interests of children; are patently offensive to prevailing adult standards regarding materials suitable for children; or lack serious literary, artistic, political, scientific or educational value for children.

These restrictions also apply to email environments accessed through library computers.

Violations will result in the loss of Internet and/or library privileges. Illegal uses of computers may also be subject to prosecution by local, state or federal authorities.

Copyright

U.S. Copyright law (Title 17 U.S. Code) prohibits the unauthorized reproduction or distribution of copyrighted material, except as permitted by the principles of fair use. Users may not copy or distribute electronic materials, including electronic mail, text, images, programs or data, without the explicit permission of the copyright holder. Any responsibility for the consequences of copyright infringement lies with the user. The library expressly disclaims any liability or responsibility resulting from such use. The library expressly disclaims any liability or responsibility arising from access to, or use of, information obtained through electronic information systems, or consequences thereof.

Guidelines for Wireless Internet Use

Due to insurance limitations and warranties, Library Staff is not allowed to configure patron laptop computers or other devices or to install any devices or software onto patron equipment. Library Staff is not able to provide technical assistance for wireless configuration; if assistance is required, patron should contact their equipment manufacturer or vendor.

The Library's wireless network is not secure, and the Library cannot guarantee the safety of traffic across its wireless network. Anti-virus, security, and privacy protection is the responsibility of the user.

The Library cannot guarantee the wireless service will be available at any specific time or that the connection will have any specific quality or speed, and there is no guarantee that a patron will be able to make a wireless connection.

The connection shall not be used for illegal or capacity-hogging purposes, nor shall it be used in any way that violates the Library Internet Use Policy.

The Library assumes no responsibility for any alterations or interference with equipment's configurations, operation, or data files resulting from connections to the Library's wireless network. The Library assumes no responsibility for damage, theft, or loss of any kind to property brought into or used at the Library.

While patrons are invited to access to the Internet via the Library's wireless portal, the Library Staff is not able to provide technical assistance, and no guarantee can be made that patrons will be able to make a wireless connection.

Adopted by the Spring Green Library Board August 15, 2000.
Revised: June 27, 2002, November 9, 2004, May 10, 2005, June 13, 2006.

Spring Green Community Library

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