Sherrill-Kenwood Free Library – Internet Access Policy
The Sherrill-Kenwood Free Library
offers access to electronic resources, including the Internet, as part of its
mission to provide services and materials in a variety of formats to meet the
information, education and recreation needs of the community. The library
considers its endorsement of the Library Bill of Rights
and the Freedom to
Read documents to apply as well to access to and use of such electronic
information.
The Internet is a global electronic network which enables
libraries to provide resources, materials, and information beyond their doors.
The NYS Department of Education officially encourages libraries to provide
access to electronic information. All libraries in the Mid-York Library System
have been recognized by the NYS Department of Education as Electronic
Doorway Libraries. The library's access to the Internet, including the
World Wide Web, is provided through Mid-York. The Mid-York Library System does
not provide electronic mail accounts, FTP (file transfer), Internet Relay Chat,
Newsgroups, nor other Internet features. Library staff is available to help
users of the Internet. However, staff members do not and can not have complete
knowledge of Internet content and may not be familiar with sites users access
or wish to access.
The library and Mid-York Library System, do not warrant
information found on the Internet to be accurate, authoritative, factual,
timely, or useful for patrons' purposes. The Internet is a global entity which
does not fall under the control or governance of any single agency, government,
or organization. The availability of networked information via library
terminals does not constitute the library's or Mid-York's endorsement of the
content of that information. The library cannot control the accuracy nor the
validity of the information, availability of links, or materials some may find
offensive. If any patron believes that information obtained via library
terminals is inaccurate or offensive, the patron should contact the original
producer or distributor of the information.
It is the library's policy that parents or legal guardians
are responsible for deciding what library materials and resources are
appropriate for their minor children. Supervision or restriction of a child's
access to the Internet, as with other library resources, is the responsibility
of the parent or legal guardian. Children also bear responsibility in using
library resources properly. Their curiosity should be tempered by their
judgment and upbringing. More information on children and the Internet can be
found in Child Safety on
the Information Superhighway by the National Center for Missing and
Exploited Children available both on-line and in the Sherrill-Kenwood Free
Library.
It is the Sherrill-Kenwood Free Library's policy that
parents or legal guardians are responsible for monitoring what library
materials and resources, including Internet access, are appropriate for their
minor children, defined by
Internet access to staff computers is filtered per CIPA regulations.
All users of electronic resources are expected to use these
resources in a responsible and ethical manner consistent with the standards and
rules of the library and of the community. Patrons may not use terminals for a
malicious, criminal, obscene or indecent purpose whether in language or image,
including but not limited to, violation of computer system security,
unauthorized use of computer accounts or access codes, obstruction or
disruption of other people's work, violation of copyright or software licensing
restrictions; nor are they to use terminals to install or download software; in
violation of another user's privacy; or in any manner that is disruptive to
other library patrons. Failure to adhere to these guidelines shall empower the
librarian to deny or restrict access to individuals in violation of these
policies and rules. The library reserves the right to enforce a time allowance
of thirty (30) minutes per session. Printing will be limited to that which can
be completed within the allotted time, and may be stopped at the end of that
time.
The library expressly disclaims any liability or responsibility,
including copyright, arising from access to or use of information obtained
through its electronic information systems, or any consequences thereof.
This policy may be revised from time to time by resolution
of the Board of Trustees.
Approved by the Board of Trustees of Sherrill-Kenwood Free Library.
Revised:
January 1999
September 2007
May 2009