Revised Feb. 2015

INTERNET USE POLICY

The Shepherdstown Public Library provides access to the Internet as a means to
enhance information and learning opportunities for the citizens of the library’s service
area. The Board of Trustees has established the Internet use policy to ensure
appropriate and effective use of this resource.

Access to the Internet is available to all patrons and visitors; however, this service may
be restricted at any time for use not consistent with the guidelines. Parents of minor
children must assume responsibility for their children’s use of the library’s Internet
service; prior to being granted access to the Internet, anyone under 16 years of age,
along with a parent or legal guardian, must sign the Internet Use Agreement. All users
must sign the log-in chart prior to beginning their session.

Expectations:
Users should be aware that the inappropriate use of electronic information resources
can be a violation of local, state, and federal laws and can lead to prosecution. The user
will be held responsible for his/her actions using the Internet. Users are expected to
abide by the policies below, which include generally accepted rules of network
etiquette. Unacceptable uses of the service will result in the suspension or revocation of
Internet use privileges.

Warnings:
The Internet is a decentralized, unmoderated global network; the Shepherdstown Public
Library has no control over the content found there. The Library will not censor access
to material nor protect users from offensive information, and it is not responsible for
the availability and accuracy of information found on the Internet.

The library cannot assure that data or files downloaded by users are virus-free. The
library is not responsible for damages to equipment or data on a user’s personal
computer from the use of data downloaded from the library’s Internet service.

The use of the Internet and e-mail is not guaranteed to be private. Messages relating to
or in support of illegal activities will be reported to the proper authorities.

Guidelines:

  • Users may use the Internet for research and the acquisition of information to
    address their educational, vocational, cultural, and recreational needs;
  • Users may use the Internet for the receipt and transmission of electronic mail (email) as long as they use a free e-mail service which will establish and maintain
    an account for them; the library is unable to manage e-mail accounts for any
    organizations or individuals;
  • Internet use is offered in thirty (30) minute sessions on a first-come, first-served
    basis; each user is allowed one session–if there is no patron waiting for the
    service at the end of a session, the user can have another session, but once
    having had the service for 30 minutes the user must abandon use of the Internet
    if another patron requests use of the service. There is no time limit on the
    laptops unless there is someone waiting;
  • Users will respect and uphold copyright laws and all other applicable laws and
    regulations; they will not use it for illegal purposes;
  • Users will respect the rights and privacy of others by not accessing private files
  • Users agree not to incur any costs for the library through their use of the
    Internet service;
  • Users shall not create and/or distribute computer viruses over the Internet
  • Users shall not deliberately or willfully cause damage to computer equipment,
    programs, or parameters.

Important Information for Users of the Shepherdstown Public Library’s Internet Service:

  • Please log in on the computer sign-up sheet, giving beginning and ending times
    of session.
  • Limit your computer sessions to 30 minutes, if other persons are waiting. Chat
    functions are prohibited. No more than two persons working together may sit at
    one workstation at any time.
  • Individual users are responsible for the sites they choose to access. As with
    other library materials, restriction of a child’s access is the responsibility of the
    parent or legal guardian. Parents should let their children know if there are
    resources on the Internet that they do not want them to use. Library staff will
    not be responsible for monitoring internet use by persons under the age of 16. If
    possible, parents or legal guardians should supervise their child’s use of the
    Internet.
  • Printing is available from the printer attached to the Library’s computer. There is
    a charge of 20 cents per side printed.
  • The library does not permit downloading of files onto library computers because
    of security restraints and the danger of viruses.
  • There are resources on the Internet that are inappropriate to a public setting in
    such a small library. Inappropriate sites, as defined by the Library Board of
    Trustees, include, but are not limited to, hate groups and groups that promote
    violence, child pornography or obscene content. Use of inappropriate sites may
    result in suspension of access privileges by the Library staff.
  • Users should, to protect their privacy, sign out of any accounts, close work sites
    (e.g. Explorer) and delete all email messages before leaving the computer.
    Return to the desktop display screen.