Divide County Library Computer Use Policy
The Divide County Public Library provides library patrons with access to computers and the Internet, which provide them with educational and informational resources.
All users of electronic information resources such as the Internet are expected to use them responsibly, consistent with the purposes for which they are provided. Users are expected to comply with the following rules:
- Use resources for educational, informational, and recreational purposes only; do not use them for illegal, unauthorized, or unethical acts.
- Respect the privacy of others by not misrepresenting oneself as another user, attempting to modify or gain access to files, passwords, or data belonging to others, seeking unauthorized access to any computer system, or damaging or altering software components of any network or database.
- Further, the privacy of others using public access workstations at the Divide County Public Library should be respected by not interfering with their use.
- Not sending, receiving, or displaying text or graphics that may reasonably be construed by library staff as creating a hostile, offensive, or disruptive environment.
- Not making any changes to the setup or configuration of any software or hardware or using FPL terminals to spread viruses.
- Not exceeding time limits established by the library.
Failure to comply with these rules will result in the loss of computer and/or library privileges. Free computer use at the library is a privilege, not a right.
Divide County Library adheres to the “Children’s Internet Protection Act” enacted by Congress in December 2000. Children under 18 must have parental/legal guardian permission to use the Internet.
While Internet site filters are installed on the patron computers, the Divide County Library assumes no responsibility for children’s Internet use. It is not possible for library staff to control specific information children and youth may locate on the Internet. Just as libraries do not vouch for or endorse the viewpoints of written material in their collections, they do not do so for electronic information. Selection policies that govern a library’s purchase of written materials may not apply to material accessed electronically. The child’s parent, guardian, or caregiver is responsible for determining what is appropriate. Library staff may direct users to specific terminals based on age.
Adult users are limited to two hours a day if no one is waiting to use the computers. If an individual waits to use the computer, computer use is limited to one hour. The library staff will notify the person at the computer when their time is up.
Youths wanting to use the computer will only be allowed a half hour and then must be off for at least 2 hours. During the waiting period, children are allowed to utilize other library services.
Library staff members are available to assist customers in using computer resources but may not be familiar with every program customers may wish to use. Due to the incredible number of online applications, library staff cannot offer technical support for non-library-installed applications. Staff will not set up e-mail or chatroom accounts and will not assist with e-mail and chatroom applications.
Because the Divide County Library has a secure computing environment, software, and hardware, including some media players and plug-ins, cannot be installed on the library’s computer terminals. The Library staff is unable to install software and hardware that has not been approved or purchased by the library for use on public workstations.
The Divide County Library is not responsible for corrupted or lost data while using the workstations. Customers use the equipment at the Divide County Library at their discretion. This includes data lost when a customer’s time runs out, or the workstation shuts down.
Updated: 9/27/2022
Reviewed: 9/4/2024
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