Internet Access

3008  Public Internet Access

Mission Statement for Internet Use

The mission of the White Lake Community Library is to serve as an informational center by providing pertinent and high interest materials for adults and children in a variety of formats, including online resources. Making Internet access available to area by encouraging computer use by area residents; and by supporting research and education through the use of computer technology is a vital part of this mission statement.

Staff Assistance

The library staff will provide limited assistance for those patrons who have never used the Internet or for those who have specific questions regarding the Internet. Staff is not responsible for providing training beyond this level. Since staff is not expected to be familiar with numerous Internet sites, it is up to the users to gain familiarity with applications through books, videos and related materials. Any equipment problems should be reported to staff immediately.

Choosing and Evaluating Sources

Patrons are free to access a variety of Internet sites, and must take responsibility for their activities. The White Lake Community Library has no control over the Internet and does not assume responsibility for the quality, accuracy or currency of any Internet resource. Patrons will be advised that the White Lake Community Library employs filtering software on the Internet access computers and subscribes to the American Library Association Resolution On the Filtering Software in Libraries adopted on July 2, 1997.

Neither the White Lake Community Library board members or staff shall be liable for any damages (direct or consequential), including lost profits, for any information obtained or provided on the Internet. Users would be well advised to evaluate Internet sources in the same way as they would evaluate printed sources and question the validity of information provided.

Patrons shall not access or produce obscene materials.  It is the responsibility of library staff to respect the rights of other library users, and they reserve the right to end an internet session at any time if they believe that the viewing of particular materials is improper or inappropriate as to time, place, or manner.

User Rights and Responsibilities

It is up to the responsible adults and NOT the library staff  to supervise access to internet sites by minor children, in the same manner as they would for the use of books, magazines, videos or other materials. Children under 10 years of age must have direct supervision by a responsible adult at all times while accessing the internet.  Library staff reserves the right to monitor computer use for children as well as adults and to end internet sessions for the reasons previously noted.

Rules Governing Internet Usage

To properly manage the use of computer equipment, the White Lake Community Library Board has adopted the following rules and regulations, and has entrusted the library staff with the responsibility of enforcing these regulations. Patrons who violate these rules and responsibilities will be denied access to the equipment for a period of time, as designated by the Library Board.

Internet access may only be used for legal and ethical purposes. Unacceptable purposes include, but are not limited to: harassment of other users; libeling or slandering other users; destruction of or damage to equipment, software or data belonging to the library; disruption or unauthorized monitoring of electronic communications; unauthorized copying of copyright-protected materials; using the library's Internet resources to conduct a business or commercial enterprise or engage in commercial activity such as the distribution of advertising; hacking or other unlawful uses.  Any violation shall result in the immediate loss of access and unlawful activities will be reported to the proper authorities.

Patrons must register at the circulation desk, and a valid driver's license, Michigan identification card or valid library card, with no delinquencies will be necessary. A parent's identification will be necessary for a child's use of the Internet.

Patrons may sign up to use a workstation for an initial period of 30 minutes. This may be extended to a second 30-minute period if no one is waiting to use the computer. Patrons are limited to one hour of total internet use per day.

Patrons may print data using the library's printer at the cost of $.25 per page. Individuals may not use personal software or transfer data from a personal diskette to library owned computers.

No removal from or addition of peripheral devices may be made to the computer. No modification of the system may be made by patrons.

Users assume all responsibility for computer software and hardware during use. Problems should be reported to the staff at once.

Copyright

             Resolution on the Use of Filtering Software in Libraries

WHEREAS, On June 26, 1997, the United States Supreme Court issued a sweeping re-affirmation of core

First Amendment principles and held that communications over the Internet deserve the highest level of

Constitutional protection; and

WHEREAS, The Court's most fundamental holding is that communications on the internet deserve the

same level of Constitutional protection as books, magazines, newspapers, and speakers on a street corner

soapbox. The Court found that the Internet "constitutes a vast platform from which to address and hear from

a world-wide audience of millions of readers, viewers, researchers, and buyers," and that "any person with a

phone line can become a town crier with a voice that resonates farther than it could from any soapbox"; and

WHEREAS, For libraries, the most critical holding of the Supreme Court is that libraries that make content

available on the Internet can continue to do so with the same Constitutional protections that apply to the

books on libraries' shelves; and

WHEREAS, The Court's conclusion that "the vast democratic fora of the Internet" merit full constitutional

protection will also serve to protect libraries that provide their patrons with access to the Internet; and

WHEREAS, The Court recognized the importance of enabling individuals to receive speech from the entire

world and to speak to the entire world. Libraries provide those opportunities to many who would not otherwise

have them; and

WHEREAS, The Supreme Court's decision will protect that access; and

WHEREAS, The use in libraries of software filters which block Constitutionally protected speech is inconsistent

with the United States Constitution and federal law and may lead to legal exposure for the library and its

governing authorities; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the American Library Association affirms that the use of filtering software by libraries to block

 access to constitutionally protected speech violates the Library Bill of Rights.

3900 White Lake Drive, Whitehall, Michigan 49461

231-894-9531 (Phone)           231-893-8821 (Fax)

http://whitelake.llcoop.org