Internet Access Policy and Guidelines
Introduction:
To help fulfill its mission of providing people of all ages
with materials to meet their informational, educational and recreational needs,
the Hanson Public Library provides access to the Internet.
Disclaimer:
The Internet is a vast global electronic network that provides
diverse resources and facilitates communication. The Library does not monitor
or control the content of the material accessed through the Internet and cannot
be held responsible for what patrons access while using the Internet.
The Library does not warrant that its web site, server or any
links from its site to other web sites are free of viruses. Internet resources
contain a wide variety of information and opinions from varied points of view.
The Library does not endorse the viewpoints of any sites linked to its homepage.
The Library is a forum for all points of view and adheres to the principles
of intellectual freedom as expressed in the Library Bill of Rights formulated
by the American Library Association.
User Responsibility
Patrons using the Internet are expected to comply with the
Library's behavior policy, which prohibits disruptive, destructive or illegal
behavior. All use of the Internet within the Library is for educational, informational
and recreational purposes only, not for unauthorized, illegal or unethical
purposes. Not all sources on the Internet provide accurate, complete or current
information. The Library assumes no responsibility and is not liable for any
direct or indirect damages arising from the use of information found on the
Internet, or any communications sent through the Library's Internet terminals.
Internet access is an institutional tool provided by the Hanson Public Library
and is not the property of the patrons. Internet access is a privilege which
the Library may provide to patrons, and comes with certain responsibilities.
A patron's access to the Internet may therefore be canceled for abusing the
privilege to use the Internet. The Library therefore reserves the right to
access site histories and to deny a patron the privilege of Internet access
if their use of the Internet is in violation of state or federal
law, this Policy, or the rules or regulations of each particular website.
Patrons are advised that they have no expectation of privacy in Library computers,
and therefore any information or data stored on Library computers, whether
in connection with word processing or Internet access, may be accessed by
Library personnel.
Access and Usage:
The workstations owned and operated by the Hanson Public Library
will be used for educational, informational and recreational purposes only,
and not for unauthorized, illegal or unethical purposes. The posting, transmitting,
accessing or displaying of obscene material, as defined by Massachusetts General
Laws Chapter 272, section 31 to constitute matter which appeals to the prurient
interest of the average person applying the contemporary standards of the
county where the offense was committed; depicts or describes sexual conduct
in a patently offensive way; and lacks serious literary, artistic, political
or scientific value, is prohibited. Any other conduct which would violate
state or federal law is prohibited. Any use intended to disrupt Internet network
services or equipment is considered a crime under state and federal law and
is strictly prohibited. This includes, but is not limited to, tampering with
computer hardware or software, vandalizing data, invoking computer viruses,
attempting to gain access to restricted or unauthorized network services,
and violating copyright laws.
The Library does not provide e-mail accounts to users; however, users with
existing e-mail accounts may access their accounts through the Library's Internet
terminals. Access to sites such as Yahoo Mail or Hotmail, etc. is permitted
so long as the user does not overstay his/her time at a terminal.
Violation of the law will result in the loss of Library privileges
and/or criminal prosecution.
Supervision of Children's Use:
It is the Library's policy that parents or legal guardians
must assume the responsibility for deciding what Library resources are appropriate
for children. Parents should supervise their children and be aware that there are no filterson the library computers.
Library staff cannot act in loco parentis. For more information on children
and the Internet, see
Child Safety on the Information Highway
, produced by the National Center for Missing and Exploited
Children, available at Safekids.com.
Parent's signature is required under the following
statement:
As a parent/ guardian of this child, I have read the Internet
Access Policy and Guidelines and Computer Use Agreement Guidelines
and Procedures. I understand that any conduct by my child that is in
conflict with these regulations will result in the termination of Internet access. I have reviewed these responsibilities
with my child and I hereby give permission to let him/her access the Internet
and use the computers at Hanson Public Library.
Adopted as policy by Hanson Public Library Board of Library Trustees on December 4th, 2001; revised October 28, 2008.
See the Sails network Internet Use Policy