Overlay

Internet Access Acceptable Use Policy (AUP)

  1. The Internet is an appropriate and useful information tool for children, young adults, and adults. The Internet and its available resources contain a wide variety of material and opinions from varied points of view, not all of which are equally suitable for the informational and recreational needs of each age group.
  2. The Speer Memorial Library will develop and promote positive examples of internet resources for each of the above groups. However, library staff cannot control information links which often change rapidly and unpredictably. The Speer Memorial Library assumes responsibility only for the information contained on its own home page, but not for the informational links.
  3. This policy was developed by the Speer Memorial Library with input from and the concurrence and support of the library's advisory board and city government.
  4. The Speer Memorial Library Director, Librarians, and staff will maintain information on current internet use policies and concerns of state and national library and governmental organizations, and other groups committed to freedom of information.
  5. Patrons using the Speer Memorial Library facilities to access the Internet must agree to and abide by this acceptable use policy established by the library. Patrons shall agree to hold harmless and unconditionally reimburse the Speer Memorial Library for any liability or damage claim arising from any use or misuse of Internet access by the patron.
  6. Library staff will not censor what a patron wishes to access on the Internet. As with all informational resources in the library, a library staff member may review what is being accessed and offer assistance in locating additional information. If the information being accessed is sensitive, or inappropriate for viewing, the patron's viewing area may be positioned to provide the viewer privacy, and so that others might not inadvertently become exposed to material that they may consider inappropriate.
  7. Parents or guardians of minor children must assume responsibility for their children's use of the Internet through the library's facilities. Minor children who access the Internet will be asked to verify that they do so with their parent's permission and knowledge of their joint responsibility as users and are hereby notified that they are responsible for the access points they reach. The library will make available to parents and other interested individuals information related to safety and censorship issues, freedom of information, family values, and other topics related to internet access. Much of this information is available on the Internet from organizations such as the American Library Association, the "Internet Advocate" (a web-based resource guide for Librarians and Educators interested in providing youth access to the Net.), the U.S. Government, educational institutions, public libraries, and others.
  8. Patrons may not use the library's facilities for any activity prohibited by federal, state law, or local ordinance. In addition, patrons may not:
    1. Use the library's facilities to gain unauthorized access to the library's networks or computer systems or to any other network or computer system in any other facility.
    2. Obstruct other people's work by using the system unreasonably or by deliberately crashing or disrupting the computer system.
    3. Make any attempt to deliberately damage the computer hardware or software or to deliberately and knowingly introduce a computer virus.
    4. Make any attempt to alter, change, or modify software configurations.
    5. Make any attempt to cause degradation of the system's performance.
    6. Use any workstation for illegal or criminal purposes.
    7. Use any workstation for business or commercial activity of any kind.
    8. Violate copyright laws or software licensing agreements by the unauthorized reproduction or distribution of copyrighted or licensed materials.
    9. Engage in any activity which is deliberately and maliciously offensive, libelous, or slanderous, or which invades another's privacy.
  9. The library expressly disclaims any liability or responsibility arising from access to or use of information from the Internet through its facilities or any consequences thereof.
  10. The library reserves the right to update and change this policy at any time without notice. It is the responsibility of the patron to read and accept the current version of the policy. Any violation of the acceptable use policy may result in the individual being denied access to the library's facilities.