Provision of the Internet
Children's Use of the Internet
User Responsibilities
Compliance with Library Policy and Guidelines
Staff Assistance
E-Mail
Precautions

2.115 Internet Use Policy

Long Hill Township Library provides public access to the Internet in keeping with its mission to serve the community's educational, informational, cultural and recreational needs.

Consistent with our mission and the professional principles of public librarianship, this Internet Use Policy affirms the safeguarding of First Amendment rights, intellectual freedom, equity of access, confidentiality of information about users and their use of all library resources including electronic, and individual responsibility.  The Library affirms the following principles and user rights as delineated in the American Library Association's Bill of Rights in Cyberspace:

• Electronic information, services, and networks provided by libraries should be readily, equally, and equitably accessible to all library users.
• Libraries and librarians should not deny or limit access to information available via electronic resources because of its controversial content or because of personal beliefs or fear of confrontation.
• Information retrieved or utilized electronically should be considered constitutionally protected unless determined otherwise by a court with appropriate jurisdiction.
• Responsibility for, and any restriction of, a child's use of the Internet rests solely with his or her parents or legal guardians.

Users are cautioned that ideas, points of view and images can be found on the Internet which are controversial, divergent and/or inflammatory.  The provision of access does not mean or imply that the Library endorses or sanctions the content or point of view of any of the information or commentary which may be found on the Internet.

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Provision of the Internet

The Internet offers a wealth of information that can be used for personal, professional and cultural enrichment.  The Library provides public access to the Internet as a necessary expedient for accomplishing its mission of serving the community's educational, informational, cultural, and recreational needs.

Accordingly, this Internet Use Policy has been designed to achieve such a mission while balancing professional principles of public librarianship, respect for First Amendment rights, intellectual freedom, equity of access, confidentiality of information about users and their use of all electronic resources including electronic resources, and individual responsibility.

Consistent with its mission and underlying principles, the Library staff has attempted to identify on the Library's home page specific starting points for searches and links to sources on the Internet.  However, access points on the Internet can and do change often, rapidly and unpredictably.  In addition, irrespective of access points, the Internet as a vast and unregulated information network inherently enables access beyond the confines of the Library's collection, mission, selection criteria and collection development policies.  The Library cannot protect individuals from information and images that they might find offensive or disturbing, or that a proximate user might fined offensive or disturbing.

In particular, the Library computers on which the public can access the Internet, to be a public benefit must be located in public areas accessible by library users of all ages, backgrounds and sensibilities.  Individuals are asked to consider their surroundings when accessing information and images.  Patrons should refrain from publicly viewing, or leaving on a shared public computer, content which may be considered objectionable.  Library staff cannot consistently and effectively monitor the public's use of the Internet.  Yet the Library reserves the right to ask individuals to discontinue the display of information and images which cause a disruption.

Users are cautioned that, because security in an electronic environment such as the Internet cannot be guaranteed, all transactions, files and communication are vulnerable to unauthorized access and use and, therefore, should be considered public.

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Children's Use of the Internet

Parents or guardians are responsible for the Internet information selected and/or accessed by their minor children (those under 18 years of age).  Children who use the Internet unsupervised, irrespective of environment, may be exposed to its panoply of information and images.  Only parents or guardians can set the boundary of acceptability for their children.  Parents are encouraged to discuss the use of the Internet in relation to family values and boundaries with their children and to monitor their children's use of the Internet.

The Library, consistent with its mission and underlying principles, has taken precautions relating to the use of computers by children.  While not absolving parents of their responsibility regarding their children's Internet access, the Library aids parent s and guardians by implementing policies concerning a child's use of publicly shared computers.

Publicly shared computers with Internet access fall into three categories of control:

1. All computers in the children's department are filtered.
2. A portion of computers in the adult and young adult area is filtered.  These computers are for use by minors whose parents prefer them to be accessing the Internet through a filtered computer.  Parents will direct their children to use these computers.
3. The remaining computers in the adult and young adult area (not covered by category #2 above) will be unfiltered.

To further assist parents, the Library has available and in print form, the pamphlet " Child Safety on the Information Highway " published by The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children , which include "Guidelines for Parents" and "My Rules for Online Safety."  Parents are encouraged to review this information with their children.

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User Responsibilities

All users of the Internet are expected to use this library resource in a responsible and courteous manner, consistent with the purpose for which it is provided, and to follow all Internet-related rules, regulations and procedures established for its use including those of the Library.  Responsible, courteous use of the Internet includes by way of example but not limited to:

• Recognizing that the Internet, like all of the Library's information sources, must be shared and used in a manner which respects the rights of others and refrains from activity that prevents others from using it.
• Using the Library's Internet resources for educational, informational and recreational purposes only.
• Refraining from using the Library's Internet resources to conduct a business or commercial enterprise, or engage in commercial activity such as the distribution of advertising.
• Refraining from illegal or unethical use of the Internet.
• Respecting intellectual property rights by making only authorized copies of copyrighted, licensed or otherwise-controlled software or data residing on the Internet.
• Respecting the privacy of others by not misrepresenting oneself as another user; by not attempting to modify or gain access to files, passwords, or data belonging to others; and by not seeking disallowed access to any computer system via the Internet.
• Refraining from damaging or altering the setup of the equipment used to access the internet at the Library.
• Refraining from altering or damaging software or data residing on the Internet.
• Refraining from the deliberate propagation of computer worms and viruses.
• Refraining from the transmission of threatening, harassing or abusive language and images.

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Compliance with Library Policy and Guidelines

In addition to this specific policy, general guidelines for the use of all public access computers govern the use of the Internet in the Library.

Violation of the policies and regulations that govern the use of the Library's Internet resources may result in suspension or loss of the privilege to use these resources.  Anyone using Library computers to access, download, display or disseminate information that is either unlawful and/or being used for unlawful means, as defined by state or federal laws, will have their privileges suspended or revoked, and illegal activity involving the Library's Internet resources will be subject o prosecution by the appropriate authorities.

Staff Assistance

Staff will assist library users in getting started on the Internet.  However, the Library cannot guarantee the Internet-trained staff will be available to assist users at all times the Library is open.  Regrettably, staff is not able to offer extensive explanations about the Internet or personal computer use or provide in-depth training.  Time permitting, staff will try to answer specific questions about the Internet and offer suggestions for effective searching.  Staff can also provide information about Internet training opportunities and Internet books and manuals.

E-Mail

The Library is not able to offer E-mail accounts.

Precautions

The Library assumes no responsibility for any damages, direct or indirect, arising from its connections to the Internet.  The Library makes no guarantee, either expressed or implied, with respect to the quality or content of the information available on the Internet.  Not all the information available via the Internet is accurate, current, or complete.  Users are encouraged to be good information consumers by evaluating the validity of information access via the Internet, just as they would print resources.

Users are cautioned that ideas, points of view, and images can be found on the Internet that an individual might find controversial, divergent, and/or inflammatory.  The provision of access does not mean or imply that the Library endorses or sanctions the content or point of view of any of the information or commentary that may be found on the Internet.

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