Internet Safety Policy - Grapeland Public Library

Grapeland Public Library
Internet Safety Policy

Introduction

The Grapeland Public Library offers public access to computers connected to the internet, primarily to provide access to information and education for its patrons.

The internet includes a huge variety of sites, resources, and materials, not all of them accurate or legal. Although no policies can take the place of personal and parental responsibility, the library has adopted the following policies in an effort to protect the library and its patrons, and to comply with the Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA).

Access to Internet Material

The library has implemented a technology protection measure in the form of internet filtering:
 

• All library computers include internet filters that are intended to block access to internet sites that may include visual images or other material deemed obscene, child pornography, or harmful to minors.
• All library computers block websites deemed by the filtering company to include malicious/phishing, gambling, or security circumvention activities.
• Computers located in or near children’s areas have additional controls blocking access to online chat rooms and sites with “mature themes.”

The library uses industry-standard, commercial internet filters, but no filtering system is completely effective or efficient. The filters may inadvertently allow access to objectionable or illegal materials, or may inadvertently restrict sites with legitimate research value.

Internet filters cannot replace personal and parental responsibility. Parents remain responsible for their children’s online activities, at the library, at home, or on personal devices.

Filters may be temporarily relaxed/disabled on individual computers for adults engaged in bona fide research or other lawful purposes, subject to staff supervision and if access will not impact other patrons, including minors, with the types of images or sites noted above.

Acceptable Use

Anyone using library computers must agree to:

• Respect the public nature of the library - No pornography, images, or material inappropriate for a public setting that welcomes minors.
• Respect the law – No illegal or hacking activities, virus distribution, threatening, copyright infringement, etc.
• Respect personal data and the privacy of others – Do not share personal information, including that of minors, including passwords, phone numbers, addresses, birthdates, etc.

In addition, the library urges all patrons to:

• Remember that the library is a public facility and cannot guarantee privacy.
• Save data and files on personal devices or web sites. Library computers automatically reset daily, sometimes after each session, deleting patron data and files. The library is not liable for lost, corrupted or inaccessible files.
• Be aware and careful. Not all internet sites are accurate, legal, or in good taste. Use good sense traveling in cyberspace.

Other

• Library staff/volunteers can help patrons access the internet, but patrons are responsible for their own computer and internet use. Staff/volunteers may be able to assist with computer/internet training or research, but availability of such help is limited and not guaranteed.
• Policies regarding computer session time limits, availability, costs for printing, and the like are subject to change and will be noted in the library.
• Patrons, including minors, who do not abide by library and internet safety policies may have internet and/or library privileges revoked.

Updated and presented for public hearing June 28, 2013