Shawano City-County Library
Internet Policy

The Shawano City-County Library, in order to fulfill its mission, provides Internet access for the public to use electronic information resources.

1. The Shawano City-County Library provides access to search software (Yahoo, Alta Vista, etc.) in order to allow individuals to take the fullest advantage of the global resources available through the Internet. The user of the Internet should be aware that he or she might encounter material that is inaccurate, controversial, offensive or unsuitable for viewing by minors.

2. Parents or guardians, not the Shawano City-County Library, or its staff, are responsible for the use of the Internet by their minor children. Parents are encouraged to discuss appropriate use of the Internet resources and to supervise their children's Internet sessions. Parents have the option of restricting their children from the use of the Internet The Library is not responsible for access gained by persons who deliberately attempt to circumvent library procedures.

3. The Library does not offer or support personal e-mail accounts for the public.

4. All users of electronic information resources are expected to use these resources in a responsible, ethical manner which include the following:

• Using resources for educational information and recreational purposes only, not for unauthorized, illegal or unethical purposes. Respecting the privacy of others by not, for example, misrepresenting oneself as another user, and not by attempting to use, modify or gain access to account information, card numbers, files, passwords, or data belonging to others. Users may be asked to present their own library card and/or other personal identification.
• Further respecting the privacy of others using public access workstations at the Library by not interfering with their use.
• Not seeking unauthorized access to any computer system, or damaging or altering software components of any network or database.
• Making only authorized copies of copyrighted or licensed software or data.
• Not sending, receiving, displaying, or printing text or images or sound clips from Internet resources, chat-rooms, e-mail or other sources which may reasonably be construed as legally obscene or harmful to minors.
• Not making changes to the setup or configuration of the software or hardware provided by the library.
• Not using one's own software on the workstation.
  

5. The Shawano City-County Library will establish procedures for the responsible and equitable use of the public workstations provided for Internet access. These procedures may include:

• Users may be asked to present their own library card and/or other personal identification.
• Monitoring the workstations for assistance, security purposes and conformance with procedures and acceptable use policies.
• Monitoring computer files for security purposes and conformance with procedures and acceptable use policies.
• Limiting the length of time individuals may use the workstations.
• Restricting downloading in the interests of security of the equipment and network.
• Limiting activities that impeded the efficient operation of the library's equipment and software.
• Requiring payment of library fines and fees on the same basis as required for the check out of materials.
• Requiring annual verification of address and other borrower information on the same basis as required for the check out of materials.

6. The Shawano City-County Library assumes no liability for any loss or damage to the user's data or equipment or other injury that may occur from the individual's use of the Library's Internet services.

7. The Shawano City-County Library reserves the right to monitor individual's use of the library workstation for security purposes. Conformance with procedures and acceptable use policies and the detection of illegal activities. The privacy provisions of Chap. 43 Wis. Stat. Will apply to an individual's use of the Internet although evidence of illegal activities will be reported to the appropriate authorities.

8. Misuse or abuse of the workstation equipment or violation of the Internet Access Policy and procedures will result in suspension of Internet access privileges and/or library privileges.

Approved by Library Board: March 19, 2003
Adopted: April 1, 2003