Jesse M. Smith Library Internet Policy & Guidelines

The Jesse M. Smith Memorial Library

INTERNET POLICY

The First Amendment

Public access to the Internet is available to all patrons of the Jesse M. Smith Memorial Library. This is in line with longtime and widely accepted principles of library use, and the U.S. Supreme Court's June 1997 ruling that definitively extends First Amendment rights into cyberspace.

General Principles

Consistent with our mission as a community educational and information center and the professional principles of public librarianship, this policy affirms the safeguarding of First Amendment rights, intellectual freedom, equity of access, and individual responsibility. The library affirms the following principles and user rights, some as described in the American Library Association's Library "Bill of Rights in Cyberspace:"

— Electronic information, services and networks shall be readily, equally equitably accessible to all library users.
— The library does not monitor nor can it control information, sound or images accessed online.
—Not all information gained online is accurate, complete, current or in accordance with local standards of taste. The library makes no assumptions about the quality of such information, nor assumes any responsibility for its use. (Please read our Internet Disclaimer for more information about Internet safety issues.)
— The library reserves the right to ask patrons to discontinue the display of information, sound or images that might be considered inappropriate, or might cause a disruption. Individuals may be asked to resume such Internet sessions at a time when other patrons will not be offended.

Child Safety

Jesse Smith Library believes that the World Wide Web is one of the most useful sources for children's informational and recreational needs. Due to the sheer volume of websites, the constant change in sites and anonymity that the Internet provides, we know that not all information is accurate, complete, current, or in accordance with individual or community standards of good taste.

In accordance with ALA Library Bill of Rights, Jesse Smith Library does not restrict the use of any library materials or services, including Internet access, based on chronological age, educational level, or legal emancipation. Restricting access to "inappropriate" material on the World Wide Web by children under the age of 18 years is primarily the right and responsibility of their parents or guardians.

Anyone who wishes to access the Internet from a public computer at the library must sign in and present a CLAN card which is scanned into the computer. Parents wishing to restrict their children's access may do so by asking that a "No Internet Use" message be attached to their children's CLAN cards. They may also retain possession of their children's cards.

As a member of CLAN, the Jesse Smith Library shall, in accordance with the Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA), subscribe to filtering software on all Internet computer workstations. However, computer users aged 17 years and older who wish to visit a site that has been blocked by the filter may ask a library staff member to unblock that site.

In addition, the library strongly urges parents to educate themselves and their children as to the best methods of effective searching on the Internet, and the safest ways to make recreational use of the net. The library posts "Safety Rules for Internet Use" at all public use Internet station and supplies the following direct links to sites which will help parents and children make wise Internet use decisions:

www.safekids.com/kidsrules.htm (Safekids.com, Kids Rules for Online Safety)

www.ala.org/alaorg/oif/tip_parents.html (American Library Association (ALA) Tips for Parents)

www.ala.org/alaorg/oif/children.html (ALA Online Safety Rules and Suggestions, etc.)

Rules Governing Use

In order to assure equity and equality of access, the library has adopted certain procedures. These are described separately. (See: Internet Procedures and Guidelines.)

Online Conduct

Just as patrons borrowing books are asked to handle them with care— returning them in the condition in which they were loaned, for example— users of the Internet are asked to respect the technology and equipment by which they gain access to the online world. Users must conduct themselves ethically and legally while online.

Users may not:

— Damage equipment or software, or change settings.
— Attempt to modify or gain access to passwords, system files, the operating system or other such data.
— Use the network to make unauthorized entry into other computational, informational, or communication services or resources ("hacking").
— Distribute unsolicited advertising.
— Send or receive e-mail, with the exception of so-called "siteless" e-mail (such as Yahoo, Hotmail, etc.).
— Participate in "instant messaging" sessions, nor post to UseNet's or newsgroups, nor participate in "chat room" sessions, nor engage in multiple-user games, as these activities may result in potential security problems, bandwidth issues, or software conflicts.
— Conduct a profit or non-profit business or commercial enterprise via online services provided by the library.
— Invade the privacy of others, or misrepresent their own or another's identity online.
— Engage in any activity that is harassing or defamatory.
— Use the Internet for any illegal activity, including violation of copyright.

Violations may result in loss of access. Unlawful activities will be dealt with in an appropriate manner.

Library Oversight

Given the ever-changing nature of cyberspace, librarians and the Board of Trustees will continually evaluate use of the Internet and library policy. Patrons are urged to voice their opinions on forms available at the circulation desk or through an appearance at one of the regularly scheduled meeting of the Board of Trustees.

The library reserves the right to modify this policy at any time.

The Board and librarians are guided in this policy by statements from The New York Public Library, The Princeton (N.J.) Public Library, other public libraries in Rhode Island, CLAN, and the American Library Association.

Adopted: July 22, 1997
Revised: September 4, 1997
Revised: 27 June 2002
Revised for CIPA: approved 12 August 2004

Internet Guidelines & Procedures

The world wide web offers unlimited global access to information. Jesse Smith Library is unable to monitor or control the content of material available through this medium. Parents and guardians are responsible for their minor children's use of the Internet.

Internet service in intended for independent use. The library staff's availability to assist users with basic computer or Internet searching is limited. Users must have basic computer skills including the ability to use a mouse.

Use of the Internet station is on a first-come basis.

All Internet users must have a valid CLAN card with NO blocks.

Users are required to sign in at the circulation desk each time they use the Internet work station. While at the workstation, the user's CLAN card will be held at the desk.

No more than 2 persons may use the Internet workstation at one time, and BOTH must sign in and surrender their CLAN cards.

The Internet workstation is for Internet and EBSCO Magazine Index use only. No word processing or other uses are permitted.

Users are limited to one hour use of the Internet workstation, including print time. Please plan your sessions accordingly.

Information may be read online or printed. Black and white text only printing is $0.10 per page; color and graphics printing is $0.25 per page.

To save print files from the library computer for printing at home, users must pruchase a disk at the circulation desk. NO personal disks may be used in the library computer.

In order to control viruses, users may not load any files onto the library computer.

Users are not allowed to change any of the computer's setting or configurations. Misuse of abuse of the computer or Internet access will result in suspension of computer access privileges.

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