Overview:
The Richwood-North Union Public Library provides access to the Internet, a medium that offers a wealth of educational, recreational, and cultural information for library users. The library makes this service available as part of its mission to provide resources and services that foster lifelong learning, build cultural connections, and support recreational interests.
Because the Internet is a vast, unregulated medium, the library cannot control and is not responsible for the content or accuracy of information accessed over the Internet. Some sources provide information that is inaccurate, incomplete or dated; some sources may be offensive, disturbing, and/or illegal. Individuals must accept responsibility for evaluating content.
The library is not liable for any damage to a customer’s disk, computer, or additional hardware that may occur from use of the Internet at the library; nor is the library responsible for any liability that may occur as a result of the disclosure of financial or other personal information while accessing the Internet at the library.
The library does not release information on the use of the Internet by library users except as required by law.
Rules Governing Use:
In order to allow all users an opportunity to use the equipment, patrons are asked to comply with signup and time limitations.
While accessing the Internet at the library, users must comply with all applicable federal, state and local laws, including but not limited to laws relating to copyright and intellectual property rights, obscenity, and matters harmful to juveniles. Users may not attempt in any way to alter, damage, or sabotage computer hardware or software and will be financially responsible for any malicious damage to hardware or software. Users engaging in these activities may lose computer privileges and/or be asked to leave the Library. Library staff may summon law enforcement authorities and illegal acts may be subject to prosecution by local, state, or federal authorities.
Patrons may not use Internet sessions in a manner that is deliberately offensive or creates a hostile or intimidating environment.
Filtering
All library computers make use of filtering software to block access to material that might be deemed objectionable. In compliance with the Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA), library staff will disable the Internet filter on a specified public-access computer terminal upon request by an adult (17 years of age or older) for bona fide research or other lawful purposes. The library staff will comply with the request without undue delay and will not inquire as to the purpose of the adult's request.
Given the nature of how information and sites become accessible through the Internet, the library cannot and does not guarantee that the filtering software will block all sexually explicit material or any other material that some patrons may find objectionable.
Access by Minors:
As with other library materials, the library affirms the right and responsibility of parents or guardians to guide their children’s use of the Internet. Library staff cannot be held responsible for supervising minors while they are using the Internet. The commercial filtering software used on all library work stations will block many specific sites that may be offensive to some, but may not block out all materials that may be offensive to all users. Parents should inform their children of materials they do not want them to use and may wish to supervise their children's Internet sessions.
To address issues of safety and security of minors when using email, chat, and other forms of electronic communication, parents and legal guardians should urge minors to follow basic safety guidelines: never give out personal information (name, address, phone number, etc.), never arrange via a computer to meet someone and never respond to messages that are threatening or suggestive, remembering that people online may not be who they say they are.
Click the link below to download a printable copy of the Internet Use Policy.