Internet Access Policy

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 behaviour 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 restrictes 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's Internet sessions. 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.

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 is unethical and such behaviour 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.

See the Sails network Internet Use Policy