The Hunterdon County Library has several computers accessible to the public throughout the library. Printers are also accessible for the convenience of users. Pages in black-and-white and pages in color may be printed at a charge of five cents ($0.05) per page. Faxing and scanning services are free of charge. 

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 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.  

The internet is an uncontrolled network.  Many websites 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 internet, and the library has no control over the data provided therein.   

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. 

Individuals must accept responsibility for determining the appropriateness of the resources that they elect to access.  Responsibility for youth using the internet and public computers 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 violates the Library Usage Policy. 

Patrons are not permitted to use library computers for the following purposes: 

• Display of obscenity in violation of the law as per NJSA 2C:34-4 Public Communication of Obscenity 
• Illegal activities 
• Harassment of other users or violation of their privacy 
• Libeling, slandering or maliciously offending other users 
• Violation of copyright laws or software licensing agreements 
• Damaging equipment, software or data belonging to the library or other users 
• Breach or attempting to 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, filtering or software 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 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 accepts no responsibility regarding the ability of patron-owned equipment to connect to the wireless network or other technical difficulties. 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’s wireless service is not to be used as a permanent connection. 

Assistance 

Librarians are available to provide limited assistance in the use of the internet.  Staff may limit the amount of time assisting users with the internet or at public computer stations to provide adequate support for all other library services. 

Violation of Regulations 

Violations of the Hunterdon County Library’s Computer Use & Internet Policy may result in the loss of internet and/or library privileges. Illegal use of the library’s computers also may be subject to prosecution by local, state or federal authorities.  

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. 

Examples of uses that violate the library’s internet use policy include: 

• Uses that violate the law or encourage others to violate the law 
• Uses that cause harm to others or damage to their property 
• Uses that involve viewing or accessing inappropriate sites on the internet that provides obscene or pornographic material 
• Uses that compromise the safety and security of minors when using e-mail, chat rooms and other forms of direct electronic communications 
• Uses that intrude upon the rights of others 
• Violation of the Library Use Policy 

The Hunterdon County Library reserves the right to modify this policy at any time. 

Adopted 6/96; Revised 5/11/98; 6/20/08; 12/09; 1/11