Camden Public Library cannot and does not guarantee that information found on the Internet will be accurate, authoritative, factual or timely. No editorial body controls the input of the sites. It is therefore up to the individual user to determine if information is appropriate or suitable for his/her purpose. The library cannot guarantee the availability of information or links, nor does it control the availability of sites that some may find offensive. Patrons believing a site to be offensive or inaccurate should contact the original producer of the site or distributor of the information. The library supports the Freedom to Read and the Library Bill of Rights in Cyberspace documents, which outline the rights of users, equity of access, and availability of resources and access.
It is the library’s policy that children shall be supervised or restricted in their use of the Internet by their parents or legal guardians, not by the library staff. The parent or legal guardian is responsible for deciding which library materials including Internet sites are appropriate for their children. Children are, however, responsible for using library resources properly and abiding by the library’s rules for use. For more information on children and the Internet see Child Safety on the Internet Highway, produced by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. This document is available online (http://www.safekids.con/) or at the library circulation desk.
Both adults and children are expected to use the Internet terminal and the resources available on it in a responsible and ethical manner consistent with the established rules of the library and of society. The Internet terminal may not be used for illegal or criminal purpose. This includes, but is not limited to, unauthorized use of computer accounts or access codes/passwords, violation of the computer’s security system, violation of copyright or software licensing restrictions, transmission of child pornography, or the obstruction, disruption, Or destruction of other people’s work. Patrons also may not install or download software, violate another person’s privacy, vandalize or abuse the hardware, or disrupt other library patrons around them while using the Internet. Patrons are expected to comply with the forty-five (45) minute time allowance per session, and to confine their printing to that which can be completed within the allotted time frame. Patrons who violate any of these rules may be barred from Internet use for a period of time to be determined by the librarian.
Those who are inexperienced with the Internet or who encounter problems during its use may ask the librarian for assistance. However, the librarian is not required to provide formal instruction on its use. The librarian and her staff cannot be expected to be experts on all aspects of Internet functions, nor can they have complete knowledge of all Internet sites and their content.
The library disclaims any liability or responsibility, including copyright, arising from a patron’s access to or use of information obtained through the library’s electronic resources, or any consequences thereof.
This policy is subject to periodic revision by the Board of Trustees of the Camden Public Library.
The Camden Public Library’s one Internet terminal will be available on the first come, first serve basis for use during the hours that the library is open. A time limit of 45 minutes per session will be kept. A voluntary sign-up sheet will allow patrons to reserve 45-minute blocks of time in advance. To cover the costs of ink and paper, a charge of 10 cents ($.10) per sheet will be made. No formal instruction on use of the Internet will be given by any staff member of the library. Patrons may ask the librarian for assistance in basic navigating through the Internet.
Patrons caught using the Internet illegally or inappropriately as outlined in the library’s policy statement may be barred from use of the Internet for a period of time to be determined by the librarian.
Compiled by Krista E. Hartman 4/20/98
Unanimously accepted by the Camden Library Association Board of Trustees on July 15, 1998, Pat Burchard.
Modified slightly to update Internet access description June 16, 1999.