Mecklenburg County Public Library: Internet Policy

Internet Policy

All users of electronic information resources such as the Internet are expected to use the resources in a responsible manner, consistent with the educational and informational purposes for which they are provided. Library users are expected to comply with all local, state and federal laws while using the Internet. Sanctions such as loss of Internet access privileges; library privileges; prosecution by local, state or federal officials; or assessment of cost of damage to equipment or data may be applied for violations of "acceptable use" or willful misuse resulting in damage to equipment or data.

YOU MAY NOT:
• Violate computer systems’ security or gain unauthorized access to computer accounts or systems; no “hacking”
• Violate software licensing agreements or copyright laws
• Attempt to alter software configurations, damage equipment, or attach personal equipment to library equipment or library network
• Represent yourself as another for purposes of fraud or other illegal activity
• Engage in unauthorized disclosure, use, and dissemination of personal information regarding minors
• Send, receive, view, download, or display illegal materials and graphics which may be construed as obscene and/or inappropriate for and harmful to minors. The access and display of obscene graphics and child pornography is illegal (Code of Virginia 18.2-372, 18.2-374 et seq.)

THE FOLLOWING IS REQUIRED OF LIBRARY INTERNET COMPUTER USERS:
1. Users must be in good standing regarding all library rules and regulations.
2. Users must sign in before using Internet computers.
3. Libraries are public places. Visuals that may be offensive to others or harmful to and/or inappropriate for minors (Code of Virginia 18.2-390, et seq.) may not be displayed and should not be accessed. Don't disturb others with excessive noise, or distract other Internet users.
4. A maximum of one adult and two children, or two adults may use a terminal at a time. Safety requires that minors not provide personal information such as name, home address, school name, telephone number, etc. to unknown individuals on the Internet.
5. Connect time is allocated in one hour blocks for users. Time may be extended at the discretion of the staff.
6. Users may not load software on Library computers.
7. Patrons may load data on personal disks. Individuals using personal disks should note that the library's anti-virus software will delete any file in which it detects a virus WITHOUT WARNING!
8. Data may not be downloaded to the hard drive of Library computers.
9. Patrons may not access chat rooms.
10. Information may be printed at a cost of twenty cents per page.
11. Adults may request that library staff provide an unfiltered Internet terminal for bona fide research or other lawful purpose. Staff will provide unfiltered adult access as soon as possible. Patrons may also request that a blocked site be unblocked by completing the site reconsideration request form that appears when the filter blocks a site. The library director will review the site in a timely manner and unblock the site after determination that the site is not obscene, does not contain child pornography, and is not “harmful to minors.”
12. Branch specific requirements/restrictions. (If any)

WARNING STATEMENT
As a general rule, this library does not routinely inspect, monitor or disclose content. However, your use of our system constitutes consent to monitoring and you are advised that evidence of criminal activity identified by the monitoring process, including communications content and transmission details, will be disclosed to law enforcement and national defense agencies as appropriate. Also, in the course of network maintenance and system management, your activities may be monitored; individuals found to be using the network contrary to this agreement are subject to the penalties stated in this agreement and to having their activities on the system monitored and recorded to ensure subsequent compliance with this agreement.
The library does not possess control of the material on the Internet and doesn’t vouch for its accuracy, objectivity, or taste. Internet access is filtered for pornography, but Internet users must be aware that they may locate material that is erroneous or offensive as no filter is perfect. Patrons should remember that no filtering is applied regarding the accuracy or objectivity of Internet websites. Sites found on the “Reference” page of the library website are selected by library staff based on the implicit authority of the site, but patrons are advised to critically weigh all information found on the Internet. Library staff is unable to closely monitor what anyone accesses on the Internet.

Mecklenburg County Public Library
Internet Policy Addendum
(Acceptable Internet Use Policy)
A. Current policies are further amended to state and be understood to state that all users of library equipment, including but not limited to library employees and patrons, are prohibited from using the library’s equipment for illegal purposes.
B. In order to prevent access by juveniles to materials harmful to and/or inappropriate for them, the library currently requires:
1. Under Age 12--Children under the age of 12 MUST be accompanied by a parent/guardian AT ALL TIMES when using the Internet. The parent/guardian must have signed the library's statement of responsible and ethical use.
2. Ages 12-17--Parents/guardians must sign a permission form for all 12 through 17-year-olds. Additionally, all young users ages 12-17 must sign a statement of responsible and ethical use.
3. Ages 18 and Up—The statement of responsible and ethical use must be signed by the user.
4. All Ages: WiFi users (or their parent/guardian, as appropriate) must also acknowledge agreement with a statement of responsible and ethical use by marking appropriate box on laptop network connection pop-up window.
C. Violations of the Library’s Internet Policy/Acceptable Internet Use Policy will be addressed as the nature of the violation requires and as determined by the Library Director and Library Board, guided by the policy principles stated herein. Remedial actions may take the form of simple requests that the user desist from using library equipment for a stated length of time to permanent loss of library privileges and may, in serious cases, include involvement and referral to law enforcement agencies.
D. The Internet Filtering mechanisms and measures retained by the Library will be set to filter child pornography, obscenity, and materials harmful to juveniles on computers accessed by the public.
E. Adults may request that library staff provide an unfiltered Internet terminal for bona fide research or other lawful purpose. Staff will enable unfiltered access as soon as possible.

Information For Children, Teens/Young Adults & Their Parents
The following is required for Internet use by children and teens under 18.
Libraries and librarians have a responsibility to provide access to material and information presenting all points of view. The Internet allows access to materials and information far beyond the library walls. Some of the information available, however, is inappropriate for young people. Because resources on the Internet are constantly changing and it is not possible for library staff or our computer filters to control or closely monitor specific information youth may locate on the Internet, the library has taken steps to make the Internet experience as pleasant and safe as possible for young people.
They are the following:
Under Age 12
Children under the age of 12 MUST be accompanied by a parent/guardian AT ALL TIMES when using the Internet. The parent/guardian must have signed the library's statement of responsible and ethical use.
Ages 12-17
Parents/guardians must sign a permission form for all 12 through 17-year-olds. Additionally, all young users ages 12-17 must sign a statement of responsible and ethical use – as do adult users.
It is the responsibility of the user, or parent/guardian to determine what is appropriate, to set standards, and to establish guidelines. Brief orientations to Internet use will be given to all users the first time they access the Internet.

Mecklenburg County Public Library
Juvenile Internet Policy Form (for those under age 18)
(Acceptable Internet Use Policy--Statement of Responsible and Ethical Use)
A. Current policies are further amended to state and be understood to state that all users of library equipment, including but not limited to library employees and patrons, are prohibited from using the library’s equipment for illegal purposes.

B. In order to prevent access by juveniles to materials harmful to and/or inappropriate for them, the library currently requires:

1. Under Age 12--Children under the age of 12 MUST be accompanied by a parent/guardian AT ALL TIMES when using the Internet. The parent/guardian must have signed the library's statement of responsible and ethical use.

2. Ages 12-17--Parents/guardians must sign a permission form for all 12 through 17-year-olds. Additionally, all young users ages 12-17 must sign a statement of responsible and ethical use.
C. Violations of the Library’s Internet Policy/Acceptable Internet Use Policy will be addressed as the nature of the violation requires and as determined by the Library Director and Library Board guided by the policy principles stated herein. Remedial actions may take the form of simple requests that the user desist from using library equipment for a stated length of time to permanent loss of library privileges and may, in serious cases, include involvement and referral to law enforcement agencies.

D. The Internet Filtering mechanisms and measures retained by the Library will be set to filter child pornography, obscenity, and materials harmful to juveniles on computers accessed by the public.

Mecklenburg County Public Library

Basic Internet Policy Form—page 1 of 2 (for adults ages 18 and up)
(Acceptable Internet Use Policy--Statement of Responsible and Ethical Use)
Each Internet user (age 18 and over) will be provided a copy of the following Internet policy which must be read and signed before use of the Internet.

YOU MAY NOT:
--Violate computer systems’ security or gain unauthorized access to computer accounts or
systems; no “hacking”
--Violate software licensing agreements or copyright laws
--Attempt to alter software configurations, damage equipment, or attach personal equipment to
library equipment or library network
--Represent yourself as another for purposes of fraud or other illegal activity
--Engage in unauthorized disclosure, use, and dissemination of personal information regarding
minors
--Send, receive, view, download, or display illegal materials and graphics which may be construed
as obscene or inappropriate for and/or harmful to minors. The access and display of obscene graphics and child pornography is illegal (Code of Virginia 18.2-372, 18.2-374 et seq.)

THE FOLLOWING IS REQUIRED OF LIBRARY INTERNET COMPUTER USERS:
1. Users must be in good standing regarding all library rules and regulations.
2. Users must sign in before using Internet computers.
3. Libraries are public places. Visuals that may be offensive to others or harmful to and/or inappropriate for minors (Code of Virginia 18.2-390, et seq.) may not be displayed and should not be accessed. Don't disturb others with excessive noise, or distract other Internet users.
4. A maximum of one adult and two children, or two adults may use a terminal at a time
5. Connect time is allocated in one hour blocks for users. Time may be extended at the discretion of the staff.
6. Users may not load software on Library computers.
7. Patrons may load data on personal disks. Individuals using personal disks should note that the library's anti-virus software will delete any file in which it detects a virus WITHOUT WARNING!
8. Data may not be downloaded to the hard drive of Library computers.
9. Patrons may not access chat rooms.
            10. Information may be printed at a cost of twenty cents per page.
            11. Adults may request that library staff provide an unfiltered Internet terminal for bona fide research or other lawful purpose. Staff will provide unfiltered adult access as soon as possible. Patrons may also request that a blocked site be unblocked by completing the site reconsideration request form that appears when the filter blocks a site. The library director will review the site in a timely manner and unblock the site after determination that the site is not obscene, does not contain child pornography, and is not “harmful to minors.”
            12. Branch specific requirements/restrictions. (If any)

Mecklenburg County Public Library
Basic Internet Policy Form—page 2 of 2 (for adults ages 18 and up)
(Acceptable Internet Use Policy--Statement of Responsible and Ethical Use)
WARNING STATEMENT
As a general rule, this library does not routinely inspect, monitor or disclose content. However, your use of our system constitutes consent to monitoring and you are advised that evidence of criminal activity identified by the monitoring process, including communications content and transmission details, will be disclosed to law enforcement and national defense agencies as appropriate. Also, in the course of network maintenance and system management, your activities may be monitored; individuals found to be using the network contrary to this agreement are subject to the penalties stated in this agreement and to having their activities on the system monitored and recorded to ensure subsequent compliance with this agreement.
The library does not possess control of the material on the Internet and doesn’t vouch for its accuracy, objectivity, or taste. Internet access is filtered for pornography, but Internet users must be aware that they may locate material that is erroneous or offensive as no filter is perfect. Patrons should remember that no filtering is applied regarding the accuracy or objectivity of Internet websites. Sites found on the “Reference” page of the library website are selected by library staff based on the implicit authority of the site, but patrons are advised to critically weigh all information found on the Internet. Library staff is unable to closely monitor what anyone accesses on the Internet.