LIBRARY BEHAVIOR AND INTERNET POLICIES
AT THE ST. HELENA PUBLIC LIBRARY
A. MAINTAINING A SAFE
LIBRARY ENVIRONMENT
B. MAINTAINING
AN ENVIRONMENT CONDUCIVE TO LIBRARY USE
C. INTERNET WORKSTATION POLICIES
D. ACCEPTABLE USES OF
INTERNET WORKSTATIONS
E. UNACCEPTABLE USES OF
INTERNET WORKSTATIONS
F. FILTERING
G. PRINTING
H. PRIVACY OF INFORMATION
I. WIRELESS INTERNET ACCESS
J. ENFORCEMENT OF RULES
A. MAINTAINING A SAFE LIBRARY ENVIRONMENT
Because the St. Helena Public Library is used by hundreds of people every day,
it is important to have a clear, common understanding of appropriate behavior at
the Library. The essential behavior while using the St. Helena Public Library is
to be considerate of others. The Board of Trustees has established the following
rules of conduct for the comfort and protection of all who work in and use the
Library.
1. Any behavior that is dangerous to person or property is not permitted.
2. Children under the age of seven must be attended by an adult or caregiver at
all times. The caregiver must be at least 12 years old and sufficiently mature
to supervise child(ren). Parents, not Library staff, are responsible for the
behavior and safety of their children using the Library.
3. Shopping carts, bicycles, skateboards, scooters or similar bulky articles may
not be brought into the building. Baby strollers and those articles necessary to
assist individuals who have disabilities are permitted.
4. Shoes and shirts must be worn while on Library premises.
5. Weapons of any kind are prohibited on library property. (California Penal
Code Section 171b)
6. Running, contact sports, climbing or swinging on furniture, standing on
chairs, placing small children on tables or counters are all potentially
hazardous to the individual and to property and, therefore, are not permitted.
7. Smoking is not permitted.
B. MAINTAINING AN ENVIRONMENT CONDUCIVE TO LIBRARY USE
1. Any behavior that interferes with another person’s ability to use the Library
is prohibited. This may include, but is not limited to, talking loudly, using
abusive language, using personal listening devices that disturb others, running,
soliciting, emitting over-powering body odors and game playing that disturbs
others.
2. Harassment, verbal abuse, threats and fighting are prohibited.
3. Conducting any type of for-profit business without authorization is
prohibited.
4. The solicitation of signatures or contributions for noncommercial or
nonprofit purposes is not permitted except when authorized by the Library
Director or designated staff.
5. While cell phone use is permitted in the Library, it may be prohibited when
it interferes with another person’s ability to use the Library.
6. Food and drink may not be consumed in the Library except when authorized by
library personnel.
7. Theft of or defacing library materials or other library property is against
the law (California Penal Code Section 594).
8. Bringing animals into the library, other than those animals assisting the
disabled, is prohibited.
9. Use of public restrooms for bathing and/or laundry and use of other public
areas for personal grooming is prohibited.
C. INTERNET
WORKSTATION POLICIES
The Library promotes responsible use of the Internet and of its computer
workstations by the following:
1. Each library customer is entitled to one (1) hour at a
Library Internet workstation per day.
2. Behavior that will interfere with another person’s concentration when using
computer workstations is prohibited. Such behaviors include, but are not limited
to: loudly conversing with others, using cell phones inappropriately, switching
computers frequently, playing in the computer area and climbing or standing on
furniture.
3. Workstation use is limited to one person per workstation except in special
circumstances.
4. Library staff has the right to restrict the length of time any individual may
use Internet workstations, particularly when others are waiting to use them.
Customers using services not supported by the Library such as chat and games may
be asked to give up their workstations if others are waiting.
5. Unless accompanied by a parent or guardian, juveniles ages 17 and under are
required to use Children's Room and Teen Room Internet workstations. Parents are
responsible for directing and guiding their children’s use of the Internet.
D.
ACCEPTABLE USES OF INTERNET WORKSTATION
The following is a list of acceptable uses:
1. Research using the Web and Internet.
2. Accessing the Library (aka SNAP) materials catalog.
3. Doing word processing, spreadsheets and presentations (OpenOffice).
4. Accessing email via Web-based services.
Our workstations have had their operating systems secured to reduce the need for
technical support which inevitably comes from providing public access to PCs.
Software installed on our machines includes an Internet browser, word
processing, spreadsheet and presentation software (OpenOffice).
Our Internet workstations have the following limitations:
1. Documents cannot be saved to the PCs hard drive. We can provide floppy disks
for document saving to the floppy drive by users at the nominal cost of $1 each.
USB storage devices will also work.
2. Listening to audio (e.g. MP3 files) is not available on our machines.
3. Due to the nature of the Internet, services apart from those for which our
machines are designed may be available; e.g. chat, playing games, streaming
video & audio and so on. These are not library-supported or controlled.
4. Staff assistance for the public in the use of Internet workstations is
necessarily limited. We are not experts in the use of every piece of software on
our machines. Neither do we know all of the software used across the Internet;
e.g. the many Java applets in use on Web sites. As staff we will help you to the
best of our abilities, but responsibility for using and learning how to use
Internet workstations ultimately rests with the user. Training opportunities in
the use of email, word processing, searching on the Internet and understanding
microcomputers have been offered in the past and will continue to be offered
when instructors are available.
E.
UNACCEPTABLE USES OF INTERNET WORKSTATIONS
The following is a list of unacceptable uses:
1. Viewing material that violates federal, state or local laws
or regulations, including those regarding accessing, viewing, printing and
distributing obscenity or child pornography.
2. Sending, receiving, or displaying text or graphics which contain extremes of
sex or violence that are an end to themselves.
3. Using computers to gain access to the Library’s network or computer systems
or to any other restricted network or computer system.
4. Using computer accounts, access codes, or network identification numbers
without authorized permission.
5. Violating copyright laws or licensing agreements pertaining to software,
files, and other resources obtained electronically.
6. Violating another user's privacy.
7. Attempting to alter software configurations or to cause degradation of system
performance.
8. Engaging in any activity which is deliberately and maliciously offensive,
libelous, or slanderous. 9. Installing or downloading any software.
10. Disrupting or interfering with network users or services. Such interference
or disruption includes, but is not limited to: distribution of unsolicited
advertising, harassment of others, propagation of computer worms or viruses,
randomly initiating interactive electronic communications, and overuse of
interactive network utilities.
11. Tampering with, destroying or damaging equipment, software or data belonging
to the Library.
F. FILTERING
By default St. Helena Public Library does not filter adult Internet workstations
but does use filtering software on Teen Room and Children's Room computers. You
may also enable filtering at adult machines if you choose to.
G. PRINTING
Printer copies from public computers are available for 10 cents per page.
H. PRIVACY OF
INFORMATION
We recommend against entering private or personal information on any public
Internet workstation. This includes entering such things as logins and passwords
for bank accounts, stock brokerage accounts, commercial vendor accounts and the
like. We do not, and cannot, guarantee the privacy of any such information
entered on a public workstation. Our machines are meant to be used for research
purposes and not as means of conducting personal or corporate business. The USA
Patriot Act (2001) also affects the privacy of library records.
I. WIRELESS INTERNET
ACCESS
1. Our policies for public Internet workstations apply to wireless users as
well.
2. The Library does not provide support or advice in getting your personal
laptop enabled for wireless service. Please contact your service provider if you
need help.
3. We are pleased to offer wireless Internet access to library users. However,
be advised that wireless service is not considered a "mission critical" library
service. Our limited technical support time will always be focused first on our
online system and second on public Internet access through our library
workstations. We cannot guarantee wireless service will always be available when
the library is open. Please inform us if you believe the service is down. There
is no support for wireless service on weekends. Wireless service is only
available during Library hours.
4. The St. Helena Public Library does not filter our wireless router.
5. Our wireless Internet is a shared service. The current size of the "pipe" is
254K and is shared by all persons using wireless in the Library.
6. One user accessing streaming video or audio or playing bandwidth intensive
games will have an adverse effect on other users. We request wireless users
restrain themselves from the use of video or audio streaming and from the
playing of online games. Our Internet connection at the Library is meant for
research and informational purposes. It is not meant for entertainment or
gaming.
7. Entering private or personal information on any public Internet workstation
or wireless network is not recommended. This includes entering such things as
logins and passwords for bank accounts, stock brokerage accounts, commercial
vendor accounts and the like. We do not, and cannot, guarantee the privacy of
any such information entered on a public workstation or a wireless connection.
Our Internet access is meant to be used for research purposes and not as means
of conducting personal or corporate business.
8. Printer access when connected to our wireless network is not available.
The Library Director and his/her designated staff are authorized
to interpret these rules in accordance with applicable law and to ensure
appropriate behavior of all persons in the Library facilities. Persons found to
be violating these rules will be asked to discontinue that activity. If they
continue, they may be asked to leave the library facility. If they refuse,
police assistance may be sought by Library staff.
Adopted by the St. Helena Public Library Board of Trustees, October 11, 2006.
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