LibGuides: Library Policies: Internet and WIFI Policies

Purpose of Internet Service
The Library System serves an increasingly diverse population of Hunterdon County. Our mission is to provide quality library services and resources to help the people in Hunterdon County expand their knowledge, make informed decisions, enjoy leisure reading, and enhance their daily lives.

Access to the Internet
The goal of the Hunterdon County Library is to provide information, materials and services to meet the wide range of needs of all of its patrons. Access to all Internet materials, services and facilities will be provided to all patrons at public Internet stations as well as through wireless access. Public Internet stations located in the Youth Services Department are reserved exclusively for use by children ages 17 and under. Adults accompanying children may assist them at the child’s computer. Parents are encouraged to discuss the use of the Internet with their children and to review the ways that their children use it.

The World Wide Web is an uncontrolled network of computers. Many Web sites contain inaccurate, dated and/or misleading information. The process of evaluation, review and selection, which the library uses for other materials and services, cannot be applied to the Web, and the library has no control over the data provided therein. Each individual must accept responsibility for determining the appropriateness of the resources that he/she elects to access. Responsibility for youth using the Internet rests with the parent or guardian, not with library personnel.
Restrictions
No person shall use a library Internet workstation in a way that is inappropriate for an open public area shared by people of all ages and backgrounds or that disturbs or interferes with patrons, employees or operations of the library.
Patrons are not permitted to use library computers for the following purposes:

Display, send, receive or print text, images or graphics of obscene material or materials harmful to minors.
Display send, receive or print text, images or graphics that violate laws relating to child pornography.
Use an Internet workstation to transmit threatening or harassing material.
Engage in any activity that is deliberately offensive or creates an intimidating or hostile environment for library staff and customers.
Violate copyright or software licensing agreements.
Violate the laws.
Breach security of the library’s computers or of computers belonging to another person or corporation.
Upload data into another computer.
Alter or attempt to alter programming in the library’s computers or in computers belonging to another person or corporation.
Access the operating system of this or any other computer.

Liability
Data and files retrieved from the Internet are not the property of the Hunterdon County Library. Patrons accept all risk when they use data or programs from the Internet. Patrons who use the HCL facilities to access the Internet, either in the library or through remote access, agree to hold HCL harmless from any liability arising from inaccurate or misleading information or from concurrent or subsequent damage caused to the patron’s equipment, operating systems or files or from any other direct or consequential injury caused to them through use of the Internet. The library cannot be held responsible for patrons who are unable to make full use of their time because of technical difficulties.

Assistance
Librarians are available at the reference desk to give limited assistance in the use of the Internet. Staff may limit the amount of time assisting users of the Internet in order to provide adequate support for all other library services.

Violation of Regulations
The user will be liable for any misuse of the computer. The library will terminate any session if the user is operating in violation of library regulations. The library will report any violation of law to the Police Department. The library will prosecute anyone who knowingly damages or attempts to damage library property, including computers, operating systems or data files. The library will prosecute anyone who attempts to upload programming into its computers or who attempts to use the library’s computer to upload programming into another person or corporation’s computer.

Procedures
Specific procedures and regulations governing the use of the library’s computers in accessing the Internet will be decided by the Library Director, and such procedures and regulations will be posted in the library.
The Hunterdon County Library reserves the right to modify this policy at any time.

Adopted 5/11/98
Revised 1/08; 6/08

Library WIFI Policy

The Hunterdon County Library provides wireless Internet access to library patrons during normal library business hours. Patrons using the wireless service agree to comply with all provisions of the Hunterdon County Library Internet Policy. Use of wireless access is subject to the following conditions:

The library’s wireless Internet service is unencrypted and use of the wireless service is done at the patron’s own risk. The library will not assume responsibility for the safety of equipment or for laptop configurations, security, or data files resulting from connection to the library’s wireless service.
The library accepts no responsibility regarding the ability of patron-owned equipment to connect to the wireless network.
Library staff will not change settings on patron-owned equipment.
The library accepts no responsibility for any software downloaded and/or installed, e-mail opened, or sites accessed while patrons are using the wireless service. Any damage done to the patron’s equipment from viruses, identity theft,spyware, plug-ins, or other Internet-borne programs is the sole responsibility of the patron; and the patron indemnifies and holds harmless the library from any such damage.
The library is not liable for the loss or compromise of any confidential or sensitive information, or for any damages resulting from that loss or compromise.
The library does not guarantee that any particular web site or electronic transaction will work.
The library’s wireless service is subject to periodic maintenance and unforeseen downtime.
The library’s wireless service is not to be used as a permanent connection.
The Hunterdon County Library is committed to providing an environment appropriate for its customers and employees. Wireless Internet users are asked to refrain from displaying materials on patron-owned equipment that may be interpreted as part of an intimidating, hostile, offensive or inappropriate environment. Wireless Internet users should not display offensive material to a passersby.