Divide County Public Library
Purpose
This policy is a statement of the Board of Directors of the Divide County Public Library, intended to be used in conjunction with other existing policies to guide the administration of open access to Internet resources. Divide County Library seeks to provide quality service to all users in a safe and pleasant environment. The Internet contains various materials and opinions, which may or may not provide accurate, complete, or information that offends and/or is inappropriate for specific individuals. While Divide County Public Library is sensitive to the concerns of our patrons, no one, including the Library, can control the information available on the Internet. Each individual is responsible for his or her appropriate behavior and use of the Internet.
Mission
The public library is an important forum where ideas can be in the open, freely debated, explored, accepted, or rejected, as outlined in The Library Bill of Rights. The Internet is an essential resource to facilitate this is the Internet, a vast collection of networks of ideas, expressions, and information worldwide.
Access
The Internet contains all kinds of news, social, cultural, linguistic, scientific, technological, travel, financial, and employment resources, among many others. Some information may be offensive to some users. Internet filtering is provided as an attempt to prevent access to obscene content. Divide County Public Library complies with state and federal laws guiding filtering software in public libraries. Our public access computers are filtered to screen out obscene and sexually explicit websites per the Federal Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA).
Children under 18 should have parental permission to use the Internet. 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 determines what is appropriate. Library staff may direct users to specific terminals based on age.
Wi-Fi
For personal computer use, Divide County Public Library provides free Wi-Fi access for all patrons. This is an open Internet connection without encryption, protection, or filtering. The user has been warned: any and all security is the user’s responsibility. File-sharing of copyrighted music, movies, and other digital content can be illegal and subject to prosecution. Public display of obscene material is unlawful.
U.S. Copyright law (Title 17, U.S.C) prohibits the unauthorized reproduction or distribution of copyrighted materials, except as permitted by fair use principles. Users may not copy or distribute electronic materials (including but not limited to music, electronic mail, text, images, programs, or data) without the copyright holder’s explicit permission. Any responsibility for any consequences of copyright infringement lies with the users; the Divide County Public Library expressly disclaims any liability or responsibility resulting from such use.
Liability
Divide County Public Library assumes no responsibility or liability for any debt(s) incurred by users from for-pay services available through the Internet. Likewise, it is the responsibility of the individual user to follow all local, state, and federal laws and regulations, including copyright.
Parents and/or caregivers are responsible for their minor children’s behavior while using computers and internet access at the Library. All public access computers are filtered. However, filtering software is not perfect and may not block everything questionable or objectionable.
Enforcement
Violation of this policy may result in an individual’s ban from using the Divide County Public Library’s public Internet computers and wireless access.
Updated: 09/27/2022
Reviewed: 09/04/2024
dividecountyndlibrary.com 