INTERNET POLICY
LIBRARY'S MISSION
The purpose of the Dover Town Library is to fill the information needs of all of the residents of a small suburban/rural community in Eastern Massachusetts with the help of the excellent resources of the surrounding libraries and educational institutions. The Library's primary role is to supply popular materials to adults, school children, and pre-school children. A secondary role is to provide materials for independent learners who use the Library to meet their need for information.
GOALS
To achieve this mission, it is necessary to make use of automated databases and new technology to meet the library needs of the community. In today's world, this means providing access to the Internet and its abundant resources.
INTRODUCTION TO THE INTERNET
Traditional print collections offer us stability and the opportunity to compare and verify authenticity, but the Internet is characterized by constant change and unpredictability. Its great strength is its vastness and wealth of information. It offers a wide variety of materials on all topics, from many points of view. While its resources may be useful and enriching, they also may be outdated, inaccurate, and illegal, and even offensive and disturbing to some individuals. With the Internet, the Library opens a gateway to information far broader than that found in our Library's collections which have been carefully selected and developed with our users' needs in mind.
USE OF THE INTERNET
The Dover Town Library does not monitor or exert control over information accessed through the Internet and is not responsible for its content. The Library has a duty, under the Chapter 151B of the Massachusetts General Laws, to maintain a place of public accommodation where all patrons can be free from unreasonable interference with their use and enjoyment of the library facilities. The display of materials, which are intended to or reasonably likely to create an intimidating, hostile, humiliating or sexually offensive environment in the library, is prohibited.
Computer users may not use the Internet in the Dover Town Library for illegal or abusive purposes, including but not limited to:
- Unauthorized copying of copyright-protected materials in any form
- Viewing content that is NOT protected by the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution (obscenity or child pornography) or displaying this illegal content (or if a minor, viewing materials defined as "harmful to juveniles" in violation of federal, state, or local laws)
- Transmission of chain letters, broadcast letters, or any form of junk mail
- Transmission of threatening, obscene, or harassing materials
- Transmission of computer viruses
- Unauthorized access to local and remote computer systems, including so-called "hacking"
- Software installation or intentional changes to software or hardware configurations on any library computer
- Engaging in any activity that is harassing or defamatory
- Attempts to determine how other patrons have used the computers
Library computers are located in public areas that are shared by library users of all ages, backgrounds, and values. We request that our computer users remain sensitive to the fact that they are occupying a public environment shared by others.
RULES OF INTERNET USE
Patrons may be asked to limit their time on the Internet when others are waiting to use the equipment.
CHILDREN AND THE INTERNET
As a gateway to world wide resources, the Internet can be a valuable and exciting source of information for children. There is content on the Internet that is inappropriate for children and content that can be legally defined as "harmful to minors".
Parents or legal guardians must assume responsibility for their children's use of the Internet through the Library's connection; therefore, restriction of a child's access to the Internet is the responsibility of the parent/legal guardian. The Library does not act in loco parentis.
The Library strongly recommends that parents or guardians work with their children when they are using the Internet. Parents of minor children should be aware that the Library is a public building, and Library staff cannot monitor individual Internet use.
In the Children's Room, library staff will try to monitor Internet use as staffing allows, and will refer children to web resources developed especially for children.
The Library strongly urges parents to instruct children never to give out personal information (name, address, telephone number, password, credit card number) online.
In addition, the Library urges parents to closely monitor their children's use of chat rooms and direct electronic communication such as Instant Messenger. The Library encourages parents to read "Child Safety on the Information Highway" and "Teen Safety on the Information Highway", free brochures available in the Children's Room or online at www.safekids.com.
ASSISTANCE
Library staff is available to assist you in your use of these resources, but may not be familiar with every application you might wish to use. Due to scheduling constraints, there may not be an Internet-trained Librarian on duty at all times. Because of the many different Internet applications available, the Library is unable to provide complete technical support.
Adopted: October 10, 2002
LIBRARY POLICIES
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