Jackson County
Public Library

Our Mission: To help you Connect, Learn, and Grow

 

Computer and Internet Procedures and Guidelines

 

Public Computer Use

 

1.  If using the Computer lab or children’s computers at Seymour, the customer only needs to approach an unoccupied computer, click the word “available”, and scan their card. If the system deems them ineligible, they should come to the desk, where a staff member can determine what is preventing them from using the computers, and how to go about correcting the problem. If the customer does not have a card, procedures are the same as any other location, as follows.

 

2. If a customer requests access at the desk or is denied access in the lab, the following items need to be checked in their record:

 

Problem:	Solution:
Card Expired	Verify information and renew card. If a customer has a Fee or PLAC card, they are required to pay for it immediately.
Owes more than $9.99	The customer may pay enough of the fine to bring it under $10.
Collection agency account	The customer must pay off the entire amount owed the library before they can access the Internet.
Internet Access Level is set to No Access	If customer is over 18, change their profile to Filtered. If they are under 18 their parents have stated that they are not to be allowed to use the Internet.
Status is BARRED	The customer has been barred explicitly. Check the customer's notes to see when they may again be allowed to use the facilities.
Needs to use a computer for longer than 1 hour, or requires supervision (i.e. computer exam proctoring)	Customer can be seated at Information Services Help Station.

 

If none of the situations in the Problem column apply to the customer's record, they may use the computer. If they want to use the lab and do not have their card, they will have to come back with it. If they are not eligible for a free card, they may be issued a guest pass.

 

3. A parent may sign an Internet Permission Revocation slip to prevent Internet access for their child. To reflect this, the child’s Internet Access Level (4. Groups and Permissions) should be set to No Access.

 

4. At the branches, the name, computer number, time in and out for the customer are recorded on a sheet that is destroyed at the end of the day for customer privacy.

 

5. Users are guaranteed at least one hour per session, with a maximum of 3 sessions per day.

 

6. When the lab is full and customers need access, they can make a reservation at the Reservation Station in the lab, and then may use the next available computer. At other locations, customers ask at the circ desk for access, and the customer that has been at the computer for the longest over an hour is told that they must leave the computer in 5 minutes. If no customer has been at a computer for an hour, the customer using a computer the longest must leave when their hour is up.

 

7. Seymour adult computers outside the lab are for catalog and reference use only.

 

8. Staff can stop sessions at any time that is deemed illegal, inappropriate for public areas, or damaging to equipment.

 

Acceptable Uses

 

Computer users are expected to:

 

1. Use equipment in ways that avoid harm to user or equipment

 

2. Respect the privacy of other computer users

 

3. Respect other library users and the library by using resources in a responsible manner

 

Violations include:

 

 a. Attempting to gain unauthorized access to computing, information, or communications devices or resources, including the disrupting or monitoring of electronic communications

 

b. Using sounds or visuals which provoke or threaten others

 

c. Interfering with the computing activities of others through use of cell phones or other electronic devices

 

d. Harassing, libeling, or slandering others

 

e. Viewing sexually or violently explicit images solely for entertainment purposes

 

f. Making unauthorized copies of protected materials

 

g. Saving, downloading, or installing files or software to library computer hard drives

 

h. Violating computer system security, network usage policies and regulations, or software and database license agreements

 

i. Making unauthorized use of computer accounts, access codes, or network identifications assigned to others

 

j. Violating applicable federal, state, or local laws, ordinances, rules or regulations

 

Violation penalties

 

Anyone violating the library's Acceptable Use Guidelines will be penalized:

 

First violation -- User is advised of violation and loses computer privileges for the rest of that day and is given a verbal warning that a second offense will result in the loss of computer privileges for 30 days.

 

Second violation -- Violator loses privileges for 30 days at any library in the Jackson County Public Library system and is given a verbal warning that a third offense will result in the loss of computer privileges for 3 months. To do this, their user record must be Modified, and their Status set to BARRED. Put a note in their record stating why they were barred and when they may return.

 

Third violation -- Violator loses privileges for three months at any library in the Jackson County Public Library system. To do this, their user record must be Modified, and their Status set to BARRED. Put a note in their record stating why they were barred and when they may return.

 

Fourth and subsequent violations -- Violator loses privileges for 1 year. See above.

 

An internal incident report will be posted to the staff intranet after each of the incidents. Staff should check the intranet regularly. A note will be posted in users record also.

 

The date and type of violation will be entered into the customer's record after each violation. After the second  and subsequent violations, the record will include the date on which they will again be allowed to use library computers.

 

In the case of persons under the age of 18, parents will be notified by a form letter located on the staff intranet. The Library Administrator will sign the letter, and all questions concerning the notice will be directed to the same.

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