Davidson County Public Library System

INTERNET ACCEPTABLE USE AGREEMENT

 

The mission of the Davidson County Public Library System is to provide citizens with a broad range of informational, educational, and recreational resources therein insuring that our libraries are THE VERY BEST PLACE TO START FOR LEARNING AND DISCOVERY.

 

The Internet expands the library system’s ability to offer resources not available within or affordable to its own individual libraries.  Internet users must be aware that libraries have no control over information accessed nor can they guarantee that such information is authoritative, complete, current, or accurate.  Some materials may be offensive, explicit, contain strong language and/or violence. Users should be aware that the Internet is not a secure medium and that third parties may be able to obtain information regarding users’ activities. AS WITH OTHER LIBRARY MATERIALS, SUPERVISION OF A CHILD’S ACCESS TO THE INTERNET IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE PARENT OR GUARDIAN.

 

All users of the Davidson County Public Library System's Internet computers must read, understand and accept the rules governing the use of the library's Internet connection and sign a statement of agreement before each session. Those users who are under 18 years of age, must obtain a parent's or guardian's signature and consent before their first usage of the Internet.  Those users ten and under must be accompanied by an adult at the computer. Parents of minor children are responsible for the child's use of the Internet through the Library's connection. Each person must give a driver's license (for users eighteen and older) or library card with Internet permission (for users under eighteen) for identification before signing to use the Internet.  Users under the age of 18 may use a filed Parental Permission Agreement as identification.

**Computer time may be reserved no more than one day in advance. (An exception is made for reserving time on Monday which may be scheduled on the preceding Friday or Saturday.)  Persons who reserve time and do not appear within 15 minutes of the scheduled time forfeit the reservation.

 

RULES OF USE                                                          

 


General

 Users of the Internet shall:

1.      Access only information for educational or informational purposes.

2.      Obey laws and regulations regarding copyright and software license.

3.      When saving files download only onto the user’s personal floppy disk, formatted for an IBM PC compatible.

4.      Pay $.20 per page for print outs.  Pages that are 75% in color are $.40 each.

5.      Have up to one hour on the Internet if others are waiting or may have up to 2 hours To maximize availability of the Internet for all users, each individual is limited to a total of 2 hours per day unless no one is waiting to be served.

6.      Acknowledge that the library assumes no liability for any loss or damage to the user's data or for any damage or injury arising from invasion of privacy in the user's account, programs, or files.

7.      Recognize that the library has no control over Internet resources and that the information may or may not be reliable and current or unavailable at times.  Some

8.      material may be offensive, explicit, contain strong language and/or violence.

9.      Sign in with a library staff member and have the staff member initiate and terminate the Internet connection.  Users shall not shut down the computer.

10.  Notify library staff immediately of any problems that may be hardware or software related.

 

Internet resources may be used only for educational or informational purposes that are legal and consistent with the library’s mission as described above.

 

Unacceptable Use

1.      Unacceptable uses include but are not limited to:

2.      Any purposes prohibited by federal or state law.

3.      Sending, receiving, displaying text, files, or images of any type that are pornographic, obscene, offensive, or disruptive.  The county network employs measures to monitor and restrict such access.

4.      Soliciting and advertising.

5.      Profiting from activities.

6.      Writing chain letters.

7.      Using Internet relay chats (IRCs) for any form of conversation, chat, instant  messaging, game rooms, etc. ( Restricted on the county network.)

8.      Damaging, altering or adding computer equipment, systems, or software; or deliberately creating or propagating computer viruses; or adding or altering bookmarks.

9.      Using the library's connection for purposes of libel, slander, harassment, or for unauthorized access or disclosure of personal information.

10.  Downloading and saving files to the library computers hard drives.  (Files may be downloaded to the user’s floppy disk or zip disk if such disks have been virus scanned and/or cleaned and disinfected as necessary by library staff.).

11.  Accessing educational games and games of chance for which fees are required.

12.  Gambling.

13.  No more than two people at a computer. Working jointly at computers may not be used to extend time limits.

14.  Misuse of computers or Internet access will result in an oral warning to stop the behavior in question.   If misuse continues, the user will be asked to leave the library for the day. Subsequent misuse may result in the permanent loss of computer privileges.    

Adopted by the Library Board – May 23, 2002