Approved by the Board of Trustees, April 1996
Reviewed, April 1998; Amended January 30, 2002; Amended April 10, 2002; UPDATE JUNE 23, 2003
DISCLAIMER: Because the Internet is a global system with information from various sources including corporations, foundations, organizations, and individuals, the library is not responsible for the content or accuracy of the information on the Internet or the statements, views, and opinions expressed there. Some materials may be offensive to some people and inappropriate for children.
POLICY STATEMENT: It is the policy of the Ohoopee Regional Library System to provide access to online databases by patrons. The purpose of online database access by patrons is to promote research, education, and economic and business development. Recreational use is allowed only as time, and other policies and procedures allow. The Internet, as an information resource enables the library to provide information beyond the confines of its own collection. It allows access to ideas, information, and commentary from around the globe. Currently, however, it is an unregulated medium. As such, while it offers access to a wealth of material that is personally, professionally, and culturally enriching to individuals of all ages, it also enables access to some materials that may be offensive, disturbing and/or illegal. The Ohoopee Regional Library System has no responsibility for the content of the information accessed though online services or agencies. The library staff can and will provide guidance and instruction, but cannot monitor. The Board of Trustees of the Ohoopee Regional Library System believes that parents have the right and responsibility to determine what is appropriate for their children. Parents must work closely with their children in order to select materials that are consistent with personal and family boundaries. Therefore, by Board policy, children under the age of 18 MUST have written parental approval before using this service. Children under 17 MUST have a parent or guardian present during use. Parent or guardian and child must have a library card, in good standing, from a member library of the Ohoopee Regional Library System or the Georgia Library PINES. Parents are encouraged to read Child Safety on the Information Highway produced jointly by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) and the Interactive Services Association (ISA), available at www.safekids.com/child_safety.htm or review the document "My Rules for Online Safety" by Lawrence J. Magid available at www.safekids.com/kidsrules.htm or "Basic Rules of Online Safety for Teens".
** According to the U. S. Supreme Court ruling June 23, 2003, on the Children’s Internet Protection Act, the computers connected to the Internet at all member libraries of the Ohoopee Regional Library System have filters restricting access to sites containing materials with graphic depictions of scenes that are extremely violent, gory, or horrific in nature and may be related to sex, bodily functions, obscenity, or perverse activities, or contain, discuss, or show pornography, including pictures, videos, or text of sex acts, or sexually oriented material. Please note guidelines below for obtaining unfiltered computer use. **
USER RESPONSIBILITIES:
Identify yourself properly when using any Internet services.
Be aware that use of the Internet is a privilege, not a right, which may be revoked at any time for inappropriate conduct in the library or online using the library's online connections.
Respect copyright and licensing agreements on programs and data.
Respect the privacy of others.
Be aware of time and resource limitations.
Respect the computers and computer systems and do not interfere with or disrupt network users, services, programs, software, or equipment.
Do not transmit or access threatening, obscene (as defined by U.S., state or local laws) or harassing materials.
The Georgia Computer Systems Protection Act, OCG 16-9-90, establishes certain acts involving computer fraud or abuse as crimes punishable by fines or imprisonment or both. "Hacking" or otherwise tampering with the hardware, adding to or deleting information relating to the software, or other acts which obstruct, interrupt or cause the computer to malfunction or are intended to disrupt computer functioning elsewhere, are included in this act. The Ohoopee Regional Library System will prosecute both civilly and criminally. The Library reserves the right to prohibit the use of computers to anyone who demonstrates a lack of respect and care for the equipment and/or a refusal to follow the Library's rules and policies relating to their use. This prohibition can be for any length of time, including permanently, if the Library deems it necessary.
AMENDED:
The Ohoopee Regional Library System has followed the intent of its Materials Selection Policy by providing unfiltered access to the Internet. However, the library will comply with the Children’s Internet Protection Act (see * below) and will research, evaluate, acquire and install filtering software as federally mandated. The software will be installed on all Internet capable machines as mandated and will be set on the "basic" filtering level.
The Regional Board notes that current filtering software does not completely or adequately prevent unwanted and objectionable materials, particularly graphics, from being accessed. Additionally, the requirements of the law mandate that safety and security measures be used to control minor use of electronic mail, chat rooms, direct electronic communications, "hacking" and other unlawful online activities, and disclosure of personal ID information. The library will therefore continue its current policy requiring parent/guardian oversight for a minor’s use of the Internet.
The Regional Board
notes that current filtering software has been proven to prevent access to
certain materials needed for research as well as materials with subject headings
that can be misunderstood or misconstrued. Therefore, within the guidelines of
the law and this policy, the library will provide unfiltered access upon
request of the patron and for research use by library staff. Georgia Code 16-12-100.2, the Computer Pornography
and Child Exploitation Prevention Act of 1999, and its related codes, 16-6-2,
16-6-4, 16-6-5, 16-6-8 of the Criminal Code of Georgia are considered relevant
and should be considered when requesting unfiltered access.
Upon final legal resolution of the CIPA, and/or related state laws and regulations the Board will revisit this policy addendum. (See above, 6/23/2003)
The document "Rules and Policies" for public computer use will be considered a part of this policy and will be posted at all public Internet access computers.
* The Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA) and the Neighborhood Internet Protection Act (NCIPA) went into effect on April 20, 2001. These new laws place restrictions on the use of funding that is available through the Library Services and Technology Act, Title III of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, and on the Universal Service discount program known as the E-rate (Public Law 106-554). These restrictions take the form of requirements for Internet safety policies and technology that blocks or filters certain material from being accessed through the Internet. The library must be in total compliance by July 1, 2002.
Rules & policies for public computer use