Integral to the Mission of Shelby County Libraries is the provision of meeting the informational, educational, and recreational needs of the diverse population of its patrons. The Library endeavors to develop collections, resources, and services to meet these needs. In response to changes in technology and the changing information needs of the community, the library provides access to a variety of electronic information, as well as equipment to support an electronic environment.
This document constitutes a Library system-wide policy for the management of computer data networks and the resources they make available, as well as stand-alone computers that are owned and administered by the Shelby County Libraries. The policy reflects the ethical principles of the Shelby County Libraries and indicates, in general, what privileges and responsibilities are characteristic of the Library computing environment.
Policies related to equipment and electronic information may change over time. The Library Board of Trustees maintains the
responsibility and the right to make changes at any time and will advise patrons and library staff when changes occur.
External Networks
Members of the Library community who use networks or facilities not owned by the Library will adhere to the policies and procedures established by the administrators of these networks and facilities. (These can usually be obtained from the network information center of the network in question.) The use of Library computing resources must follow the guidelines of all networks traversed.
Confidentiality
In general, the Library will treat information stored on computers as confidential (whether or not that information is protected by the computer operating system). Requests for disclosure of information will be honored only under one of the following conditions:
- when approved by the appropriate Library administrator;
- when authorized by the owners of the information;
- when required by local, state or federal law.
Except when inappropriate, computer users will receive prior notice of such disclosures. (Viewing or information in the course of normal system maintenance does not constitute disclosure.)
Responsibilities of Users
The user is responsible for correct and sufficient use of the tools available for maintaining the security of information stored on each computer system. The following precautions are strongly recommended: Computer accounts, passwords and other types of authorization that are assigned to individual users should not be shared with others.
The user should assign an obscure account password and change it frequently.
The user should understand the level of protection each computer system automatically applies to files and supplement it, if necessary, for sensitive information.
The computer user should be aware of computer viruses and other destructive computer programs, and take steps to avoid being a victim or unwitting distributor of these processes.
The ultimate responsibility for the resolution of problems related to the invasion of the user’s privacy or loss of data rests with the user. The Library assumes no liability for loss or damage to the user’s data or for any damage or injury arising from invasion of the user’s privacy.
Information accessible from the Internet is not generated by Shelby County Libraries and is not necessarily accurate, authoritative, complete, or current. Material on the Internet is not pre-screened, monitored, censored, endorsed or ratified by Shelby County Libraries. Shelby County Libraries waives any responsibility for content accessible from the Internet.
Use of Library OPLIN/Internet access stations to display or disseminate sexually explicit (obscene/pornographic) material in any Library building is neither appropriate nor acceptable.
Organizational Purposes
Library computing resources are to be used to advance the Library’s mission. Staff may use them only for purposes related to the discharge of their duties as employees, their official business with the Library, and other Library-sanctioned activities.
Legal Use
Computing resources may only be used for legal purposes by the public and staff. Examples of unacceptable purposes include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Harassment of other users;
- Libeling or slandering other users;
- Destruction of or damage to equipment, software, or data belonging to the Library or other users;
- Disruption or unauthorized monitoring of electronic communications;
- Unauthorized copying of copyright-protected material.
Ethical Use
Computing resources should be used in accordance with the ethical standards of the Library. Examples of unacceptable use (some of which may also have legal consequences) include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Violation of computer system security;
- Unauthorized use of computer accounts, access codes, or network identification numbers assigned to others;
- Use of computer communications facilities in ways that unnecessarily impede the computing activities of others (such as randomly initiating interactive electronic communications or e-mail exchanges, overuse of interactive network utilities, and so forth);
- Violation of software license agreements;
- Violation of network usage policies and regulations;
- Violation of another user’s privacy.
Cooperative Use
Computing resource users can facilitate computing at the Library in many ways. The Library endorses the practice of cooperative computing. It includes:
- Regular deletion of unneeded files from one’s accounts on shared computing resources;
- Refraining from overuse of connect time, information storage space, printing facilities or processing capacity;
- Refraining from overuse of interactive network utilities;
- Refraining from the use of sounds and visuals which might be disruptive to others;
- Refraining from the use of any computing resource in an irresponsible manner.
Sanctions
Violators of computing resources use policies that may lose library privileges. (Staff will be subject to normal disciplinary procedures as well.) Violations of the policies described above for legal and ethical use of computing resources will be dealt with in a serious and appropriate manner. Illegal acts involving Library computing resources may also be subject to prosecution by local, state or federal authorities.
Rules and Regulations
- Patrons of any age may use computers. Children under the age of 18 must have parent’s permission to have access to Shelby County Libraries computers. ABCmouse access is available to patrons of any age. Shelby County Libraries online catalog is provided to all ages.
- Only one patron per computer. Staff may grant exceptions to parents with children or patrons working on a collaborative project.
- Library staff may not be trained in or knowledgeable about individual software programs available on the computers.
- Repairs to computers should only be made by authorized library staff or certified technicians. Repairs to computers are made without notice. When informed by library staff of repairs, patrons using the computers will stop work to allow repairs to be made. A user may save current documents on a storage device.
- Electronic mail accounts, chat lines, instant messaging, list serves and news groups are not provided by the Library. Software provided to utilize these or other resources does not constitute an endorsement or promotion of that product or any point of view or opinion expressed therein.
- Parents or guardians of minors may wish to closely monitor their child’s access to the Library computers and the Internet. As is the case with all Library materials, the right to restrict a minor’s access to materials rests firmly with the parent or guardian.
- Computers in the Children’s Room of Amos Memorial Public Library are designated for patrons age 12 and under. Computers in the Teen Room of Amos Memorial Public Library are designated for patrons ages 13-18. Computers in the main computer lab of Amos Memorial Public Library are designated for patrons 18 and older. Computers at community location libraries are designated for patrons of all ages at the discretion of library staff.
- The Library reserves the right to designate certain equipment for use by patrons in need of special physical accommodation. This may require patrons without need of such accommodation to move or relinquish their spots on this equipment, with every effort being made to find them alternative space in a timely manner.
Wireless Access
Shelby County Libraries will provide access to wireless connectivity to the internet for patrons. Patrons who access the internet via a wireless device at Shelby County Libraries will adhere to all applicable Library policies. Library Staff is not responsible for setting up personal computers to work within the Library’s wireless network.
The Library provides wireless Internet access throughout its public space. Properly equipped Internet-enabled devices will connect to the network in the same manner they would to other typical wireless networks. The wireless network is unsecured. Patrons should use appropriate caution when transmitting personal information over unsecured networks. The Library is not responsible for patrons’ use or personal devices while using the Library’s unsecured wireless access.
Filtering
Shelby County Libraries supports the free and open nature of the internet and realizes the limitation of technical restrictions placed on its use. All library owned devices have content filtering of obscene and indecent internet content. Library staff will make every effort to remove blocks on sites that are appropriate within the acceptable use policy.
Computer Management Software
Shelby County Libraries employs computer management software to manage library owned computers and printers. Computer users must have a library card to access library owned computers. Temporary passes for computer use can be issued for those not having or wishing to have a permanent library card. Library staff reserves the right to limit the frequency of temporary pass usage.
Computers are available on a first come, first served basis. Patrons wishing to use a computer at a specific time can make a reservation at the circulation desk with library staff.
Time and session limits are at the discretion of Shelby County Libraries and may be subject to change without notice.
Software
Shelby County Libraries provides selected software and printers. The software shall be designed for informational, educational, or recreational uses. No other software may be installed, downloaded, used, or copied to the computers.
Saving user files on library owned devices is not permitted. User files may be saved to a storage device. Library computers have DeepFreeze (or similar software) installed on them. This software will wipe the computer clean upon reboot, deleting all user data.
The Library is not responsible for damage to the user’s disk or computer, or for any loss of data, damage, or liability that may be incurred for the patron’s use of the Library’s computers.
Suspension of Use Privileges
Suspension of use privileges shall be at the sole discretion of Shelby County Library staff. The supervisor in charge may use their judgment in denying the use of the computer to individuals or groups. Library associates shall notify appropriate supervisors of patrons who have been suspended and the length of the suspension.
Any abuse or misuse of the computers, associated hardware, Internet, or Library software will result in suspension of use privileges. This includes, but is not limited to, copying Library software; uploading, downloading, or installing any software to the computers; attempts to access or change set-up programs, resources, features, contents or controls of the computers; or utilization of any resource causing damage to or altering the operations, functions, or designs of the computers.
Use of computers is for educational, informational, and recreational purposes only. Any utilization which is illegal, criminal, or unethical or infringes on the rights of liberties of another is strictly prohibited.
Utilization of the computers to access, view, print, store, transmit, disseminate or sell any information protected by law or subject to privilege or an expectation of privacy is strictly prohibited.
Utilization of the computers involving communications, materials, information, data, or images prohibited by legal authority as obscene, pornographic, threatening, abusive, harassing, discriminatory, antisocial, or in violation of any other policy of Shelby County Libraries is strictly prohibited.
Utilization of the computers which causes or permits materials protected by copyright, trademark, service mark, trade name, trade secret, confidential or proprietary data and information, or communications of another to be uploaded to a computer or information system, published, broadcasted, or in any way disseminated without authorization of the owner is strictly prohibited.
Granting access to persons not authorized by Shelby County Libraries to any of the computers, either an intentional action such as disclosure of account information or unintentional action such as failure to log off will result in suspension of use privileges
The Library will actively seek to prohibit the use of Internet resources by those individuals prohibited by law, court order, conditions of parole or pardon, or other legally binding restriction. This may include identification of users on parole, probation, or list of sexual predators.