Internet Acceptable Use

Adopted by the Library Board of Trustees on December 19, 2000

I. The library provides free access to the Internet as part of its mission to promote literacy, lifelong learning, personal fulfillment, and the principles of intellectual freedom.

II. The library upholds and affirms the right of every individual to have access to constitutionally protected material on the Internet.

III. Each individual must accept responsibility for determining the appropriateness of the resources that s/he elects to access. Responsibility for youth using the Internet rests with the guardian, not with library personnel.

IV. No person shall use a library Internet workstation in a way that is inappropriate for an open public area shared by people of all ages and backgrounds or that disturbs or interferes with customers, employees or operations of the library. Customers may not:

A. Display, send, receive or print text, images or graphics of obscene material or materials harmful to minors;

B. Display, send, receive or print text, images or graphics that violate laws relating to child pornography;

C. Use an Internet workstation to transmit threatening or harassing material;

D. Engage in any activity that is deliberately offensive or creates an intimidating or hostile environment for library staff and customers;

E. Violate copyright or software licensing agreements;

F. Gain unauthorized access to any computing, information, or communications devices or resources;

G. Damage, alter, or degrade computer equipment, peripherals, software, or configurations;

H. Install software applications; or

I. Use an Internet workstation to conduct commercial activities, including the sale of goods or services.

Professional librarians on staff are authorized to terminate the Internet session of any customer who fails to comply with this policy; to take further action in accordance with the Library Code of Conduct; and to report illegal activity of which they become aware to the appropriate authorities for prosecution.