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Internet Access Policy

 COMMERCE PUBLIC LIBRARY

INTERNET ACCESS POLICY

Rev. July 2024

 

The Internet offers access to a wealth of material that is personally, professionally, and culturally enriching to people of all ages. However, the Library has no control over the information obtained through the Internet and cannot be held responsible for its content or accuracy. It may contain materials that some find offensive or inappropriate. Library users access the Internet at their own discretion.

 

Guidelines

  • Computers are available to all patrons on a first-come, first-serve basis. 

  • Access time will be limited to sixty (60) minutes from the time of sign-in if others are waiting to use the workstation. 

  • Computer workstations are in a public area. Patrons should not presume privacy and should be conscious of the public visibility of their computer use throughout their session.

  • Out of consideration for other patrons, patrons should use personal earphones with the volume kept at a reasonable level. Headphones may be checked out at the front desk.

  • Only two (2) people should be at a computer workstation at a time.

  • Internet workstations will be turned off fifteen (15) minutes before closing.

  • When finished, users should close the Internet browser and log off to end the session. Please do not shut down the computer.

  • Users may use their own USB flash drives to save work done on the computer. All work will be deleted automatically at the end of a session unless saved on your own flash drive.

  • Printing from computers is available for a charge of 10 cents ($.10) per page. Patrons must pay for all pages printed regardless of whether intended or not. Please use the print preview feature before printing.

  • No personal software is to be loaded on library computer hard drives. No private files may be stored on the library computers. 

  • Library staff are available to provide general assistance in accessing and navigating the computer.

Protection of Children and Minors

Following the federal Children's Internet Protection Act (CIPA) (Pub. L. 106-554), all library computers are equipped with filtering software. The software is set to screen out sites that may reasonably be construed as obscene, as that term is defined in section 1460 of Title 18, United States Code; or child pornography, as that term is defined in section 2256 of Title 18, United States Code; or harmful to minors as defined in section 1703, Pub. L. 106-544.

In addition, we require

  • Children aged 11 and under require parental permission and ongoing adult supervision while using the computers.

  • Children aged 12 through 17 require a signed parental permission agreement on file to use the Internet. 

Only parents may restrict Internet resources chosen by their children beyond the restrictions set for all library patrons.  Library staff members are not responsible for controlling children's use of the Internet.  Parents are strongly advised to provide guidance and supervise their children's use of the Internet.

 

UNACCEPTABLE USE OF THE INTERNET/COMPUTERS

At no point should patrons damage, tamper with, or destroy any equipment, software, or data belonging to the Commerce Public Library, including adding, altering, or deleting files on a library computer or the library network. Patrons should also refrain from violating computer system integrity, including attempts to bypass security functions, obtain passwords, alter the configuration of workstations in any way, or change any computer settings.

Patrons are also forbidden from using the computer for any of the following:

  • Using the Internet for any illegal activity.

  • Using the Internet to harass or defame others.

  • Unauthorized access to computer or use of computer for “hacking” or other acts of cyber vandalism or trespass.

  • Sending, receiving, or displaying text or graphics which may be reasonably construed as obscene or pornographic.

  • Violating copyright or software licensing agreements.

  • Using the Internet to defraud or obtain money or other valuables by false representation.

If a staff member determines that the patron violated this policy or has otherwise misused the computer, the patron will forfeit internet and computer privileges. In the cases where library staff believe patrons have, in their computer usage, violated municipal, state, or federal law or have maliciously damaged library property, library staff will contact the local police. 

 

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