Oconee Regional Library Computer Acceptable Use Policy

Purpose

The Oconee Regional Library Board of Trustees supports the idea that all members of the community have free and equal access to the entire range of library resources regardless of content, approach, format or amount of detail. These rights extend to all users of the public library. The computers offered by the Library System are intended to integrate electronic resources from information networks around the world with the Library System's other resources and, by doing so, enable the Library System to provide information beyond the boundaries of its own collection.

Guidelines for Use

• Public computers are intended for education, information and recreational purposes.
• Computers shall not be used for illegal activity, to access illegal materials, to access child pornography, to access materials which by local community standards would be obscene, or in the case of minors to access materials harmful to minors. Transmitting and/or receiving obscene materials and/or child pornography is a violation of the law and is not permitted under any circumstances. Violation of this rule will subject a patron to criminal prosecution and result in immediate and permanent loss of library computer privileges.
• Users shall respect the privacy of other users and shall refrain from attempting to view or read material being used by others, as well as to censor or comment on what others are viewing.
• Users shall sign up in person to use a computer on a "next available station" basis. Stations may not be "reserved" for other persons and will not be held for persons who are not in the immediate vicinity when a computer is available for their use. Telephone reservations will not be taken.
• Computer sessions shall be limited to 30 minutes, unless no one is waiting.
• Upon completion of a computer session, depending upon demand for stations, a user may be required to wait 30 minutes before signing up for another session or may be limited to a certain number of time slots per day.
• Users must end their session and leave the station when asked to do so by authorized Library staff.
• During the Library's last hour of operation, users needing computer access for educational purposes shall have priority over users needing computers for recreational purposes.
• In the interest of providing services to the maximum number of patrons, the number of computer sessions available per day, per user, may be limited by the staff person in charge. Such limitations will be dependent on facility-specific demand.
• The staff person in charge may limit the number of people at each computer.
• Prompt payment is required of users who incur charges for printing or other authorized fees.
• The Georgia Computer Systems Protection Act, O.C.G.A. 16-9-90 through 16-9-94, establishes certain acts involving computer fraud or abuse as crimes punishable by fines or imprisonment or both.
• Misuse of library computers will result in the loss of computer privileges, potential loss of library privileges and possible prosecution. Such misuse includes, but is not limited to, using the computer for illegal activities; hacking into any computer system; damaging or attempting to damage computer equipment or software; interfering with systems operations, integrity or security; gaining unauthorized access to another computer network or files; sending harassing messages; altering or attempting to alter the library's computer settings; and violating copyright laws and/or software licensing agreements.

Responsibility of Library Regarding the Internet

At present, the Internet is an unregulated and rapidly changing medium. It contains a wealth of diverse material that is personally, professionally, and culturally enriching to individuals of all ages. It also contains materials that may be offensive, controversial, disturbing, illegal, harmful to minors, inaccurate, or incomplete.

Because this library receives federal and state funding for public Internet access, federal law requires that filtering/blocking software be installed on all Internet access computers. Filtering/blocking software is inherently imperfect. It inevitably blocks some constitutionally protected materials. It is incapable of providing complete and reliable protection against obscenity, child pornography, and materials harmful to minors. Under the law, the library can request that erroneously blocked websites be unblocked. Patrons 17 years of age and older who encounter what they believe to be an improperly blocked site may complete and submit an Improperly Blocked Internet Site Form to begin this process. Also under the law, adult patrons (ages 17 and older) can request an unfiltered session. Requesting adults need not explain why they wish to disable the filter or unblock a particular website.

With the exception of such filtering, the library does not monitor, control or restrict access to equipment or to the range of information available within the limits of State and/or Federal law. The Library System does not have direct control over information accessed through the Internet and cannot be held responsible for its content. Provision of Internet access by the Library System does not constitute an endorsement of any particular information contained on the Internet. The Library System, moreover, shall have no liability for direct, indirect or consequential damages related to the use of information accessed on the Internet from Library equipment. Library patrons use the Internet at their own risk. Users, therefore, are encouraged to evaluate the validity of information obtained from the Internet.

Responsibility of Parents / Guardians of Minors

The Library System upholds and affirms the right and responsibility of parents and legal guardians to determine what is or is not appropriate and monitor their minor (under 17 years of age) children's access to inappropriate matter. Parents and legal guardians:

• Must give permission by signing a Computer Use Registration Form for their child(ren) to use the Library's computers.
• Are expected to monitor and supervise their children's use of computers in selecting material that is consistent with personal and family values and is appropriate for the age and understanding of their children. The Library System does not and cannot provide this monitoring or supervision. Parents/guardians are encouraged to work closely with their children in the library, particularly on the Internet.
• Must be responsible for the following: the safety and security of minors when using email, chat rooms and other forms of direct electronic communications; unauthorized access, including "hacking" and other unlawful activities by minors online; unauthorized disclosure, use and dissemination of personal identification information concerning minors; measures designed to restrict minors' access to materials "harmful to minors" as currently defined by law.
• All minors under the age of 17 years, who visit the library without parents or guardians will be responsible for their own decisions and behavior.
• For minors who violate the Library's computer use policies, the Regional Director or authorized library personnel may choose to contact parents or guardians, if necessary.
• Parents/legal guardians are encouraged to read "Librarian's Guide to Cyberspace for Parents & Kids," available at www.ala.org/alaorg/oif/children.cfm

Computer Users are Reminded that:

1. Public library computer stations are neither private nor secure.
2. Users should exercise extreme caution about revealing any personal identification information over the Internet. Minors should NEVER disclose any personal identification information over the Internet.
3. The best and safest policy regarding email from a person unknown to you or from an unfamiliar email address is to delete it before opening it.
4. Patrons are reminded that computer screens are visible by children and appropriate local, state and federal laws concerning the display of materials harmful to minors will be strictly enforced.

Termination or Prohibition of Access

Violations of this policy may result in the loss of computer privileges. Conviction of illegal activities and/or misuse of computers will result in immediate and permanent loss of computer use privileges. For other violations, a patron will receive a warning for a first offense; a second offense will result in a temporary loss of computer use privileges for a period of two weeks; a third offense will result in a permanent loss of computer use privileges.

Library employees are authorized to terminate any user's computer session, or to prohibit a user from subsequent computer sessions for up to two weeks from the date of informing the user of that action, given cause to believe that the user has violated this policy.

Right to Appeal

A computer user whose session has been terminated or whose access has been barred shall have the right to appeal and/or request that computer use privileges be reinstated. An appeal must be in writing and submitted to the Regional Director within five days of the termination or prohibition. Within ten days of receipt of the appeal, the Regional Director shall review the matter and notify the patron in writing of his/her decision. If the Regional Director's decision is adverse to the patron, he/she may appeal in writing within five days to the Regional Library Board of Trustees, which shall thereafter consider the matter based on the written record and issue its decision in writing within 30 days of receipt. No further appeals shall be considered. These decisions will be implemented at all Oconee Regional Library System facilities.

Review of Permanent Record

If a patron has been permanently barred from computer use, they may appeal in writing to the Regional Director once every 5 years. The prohibition may be extended or suspended upon decision of the Regional Director.

Definitions:
     "Minor" for purposes of CIPA is a person under 17 years of age pursuant to 47 U.S.C.A 254(h) (7) (D).
     "Harmful to minors" as defined in 47 U.S.C.A 254(h) (7) (G).
     "Inappropriate matter" for minors is material that is obscene as defined under Georgia law (O.C.G.A. 16-12-80)
     "Child pornography" is defined under federal and state law (18 U.S.C. 2256; O.C.G.A. 16-12-100)