Worcester Public Library Internet Policy

The Worcester Public Library provides access to the Internet for persons of all ages as a means of fulfilling its stated mission to provide free information and services that promote lifelong learning and personal enrichment and to eliminate barriers to the pursuit of ideas.

The Library upholds and affirms that every individual is entitled to access to constitutionally protected material on the Internet. Because not all sources on the Internet provide accurate, complete or current information, the Library encourages users to evaluate the validity of information found.

The Library supports the right to privacy and confidentiality of users in accordance with the Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 180, Acts of 1988. The Library may ask users to refrain from displaying computer images that are inappropriate for public viewing. The Library will not tolerate use of its computers in a way that violates local, state, or federal law.

As with all materials available at the Worcester Public Library, parents and guardians are responsible for guiding their children's use of the Internet.

Internet users must abide by the Internet Use Guidelines.

The Worcester Public Library adheres to the principles expressed in the following documents of the American Library Association:

 · Library Bill of Rights 

· Free Access to Libraries for Minors

 · Access to Electronic Information, Services, and Networks: an interpretation of the Library Bill of Rights.

The Worcester Public Library's Board of Directors and staff will evaluate the Library's Internet policies and procedures and make modifications as needed to insure equitable and safe access for all.

April 22, 2002 - Committee on Library Materials voted unanimously to recommend adoption by the Board. May 14, 2002 - Board of Directors accepted committee's recommendation.

Worcester Public Library Internet Safety Policy & Procedures

The Worcester Public Library provides access to the Internet for persons of all ages as a means of fulfilling its stated mission to provide free information and services that promote lifelong learning and personal enrichment and to eliminate barriers to the pursuit of ideas.

1. Protected free speech is different for adults and children. Certain categories are protected for adults but are deemed harmful to minors. Worcester Public Library allows open access to information only to the extent allowed by law. Privacy screens are installed on all public Internet computers except in the Children's Room and the Young Adult section. The Library strongly discourages all computer users from disclosing personal information.

2. Children through age 12 may use the Children's Room Internet computers only. Teens and adults may use these computers only when assisting a child.

3. Teens ages 13 to 17 may use Internet computers in the Young Adult section and in all areas of the library except the Children's Room.

4. Adults 18 and older may use Internet computers in all areas of the library except the Children's Room and the Young Adult section unless assisting a child.

5. Because of the limited number of computers at branch libraries, Internet computers may be used by people of any age.

6. Parents are encouraged to come to the library and use the Internet with their children. The Worcester Public Library supports the right of each family to decide what is appropriate Internet use for their children. A parent or guardian must accompany any child of age 7 or under who wishes to use an Internet computer.

7. The Children's Room Internet computers start at Worcester Public Library's Children's home page. It has links to quality children's sites selected by Children's Room staff.

8. Children's Room Internet computers are sited so the librarians can assist children promptly and can easily monitor children's Internet activity.

9. While the library protects children's rights to access all legal materials, Children's Room Internet computers are located in an area where other children can view the monitors. Staff reserve the right to determine what is acceptable for children to view in a public setting, in compliance with all applicable laws and library procedures.

10. The Children's Room does not promote, endorse or provide links to any sites that include email accounts, chat or other direct communication. The Children's home page offers links to many popular websites that do not include these features. Staff actively promote the use of these sites.

11. Worcester Public Library prohibits all illegal activities on library computers. The Children's Room Internet policy states that parents will be contacted and that police will be involved in the case of a criminal offense.

12. Since the introduction of the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act, websites are required to verify that children under 13 have parental permission when collecting personal information. Children using library Internet computers may not proceed with any activity online that requires parental consent, unless the child's parent is present and registers with his/her child.

13. Children's Services encourages all children using Internet computers to develop a "screen name" and password to use for all sites that require log-in.

14. Worcester Public Library requires Internet users at the Main Library to log on using their library card number. This is used only for reserving a computer. The library does not collect any personal information from persons using library computers.

May 20, 2002 - Committee on Library Materials recommended adoption by the Board.
June 11, 2002 - Board of Directors accepted the committee's recommendation with amendments and an affective date of July 1.

Worcester Public Library Internet Guidelines

General Guidelines
All library users must observe the policies, rules, and procedures established by the Worcester Public Library.

Internet users must follow these guidelines:

• Recognize that the Internet, like all of the Library's information sources, must be used in a manner that respects the rights of others and must refrain from activities that prevent others from using it.
• Comply with intellectual property rights by making only authorized copies of copyrighted, licensed or otherwise-controlled software or data transmitted via the Internet.
• Respect the privacy of others by not misrepresenting oneself.
• Refrain from modifying or gaining access to files, passwords, or data belonging to others; and from "hacking" into any computer system.
• Adhere to posted time limits and sign-in procedures.

Responsibility of Users
All Internet users are expected to use this resource responsibly and courteously. Users should be aware that they are working in a public environment shared by people of all ages and sensibilities. Users should refrain from the use of Internet sounds and visuals that might be disruptive to others.

No person shall use a library workstation in a way that disrupts or interferes with users, employees, or the operations of the Library. Only one person is allowed per computer.

Library computers may NOT be used for:

• Any illegal activities including forgery, fraud, violation of copyright, or violation of the rights of third parties.
• Display of material from sites that may be deemed obscene and/or unlawful under federal or state statutes. (Massachusetts General Laws 27:28 et seq.)

Users may NOT:

• Damage equipment or alter the setup of computers, or degrade system performance.
• Alter or damage software, software settings, or data stored on computers.
• Install or run personal software.
• Set any bookmarks, links, or shortcuts.
•  Make unauthorized copies of copyright protected materials
• Harass staff or other patrons, or engage in deliberately or maliciously offensive or defamatory activity
• Infringe on other patrons privacy or computer use
• Transmit threatening, harassing, or abusive language or images
• Deliberately propagate computer worms and/or viruses.
• Obstruct the work of others by consuming large amounts of system resources, by deliberately crashing any library computer system or by making any attempt to degrade system performance.
• Represent oneself as another person for purposes of fraud or other illegal activity.

Violations may result in loss of access.
ILLEGAL ACTS INVOLVING LIBRARY RESOURCES MAY BE SUBJECT TO PROSECUTION BY LOCAL, STATE, OR FEDERAL OFFICIALS.

The Worcester Public Library does NOT:

• Guarantee privacy or confidentiality.
• Guarantee access if connections fail or computer "freezes".
• Guarantee Internet information to be accurate, complete or current.
• Reserve specific time slots for computers; however, users can use signup stations and should monitor their places in the queue.
• Provide one-on-one patron assistance beyond a basic introduction.
• Take responsibility for damage to personal disks or other computers.

Computer users may:

• Print to a central printer (15 cents per page to be paid before printing).
• Use public access to the Internet for 30 minutes.
• Use the word processor for 60 minutes.
• Save document to their discs.

Confidentiality

Transaction logs, electronic mail, and other information that could link users with specific materials or subject matter are considered by the Library to be confidential and will not be divulged to anyone other than the user. (Massachusetts General Laws 78:7) All users are advised that such records shall not be made available to any agency of state, federal or local government except pursuant to such process, order, or subpoena as may be authorized under the authority of, and pursuant to, federal, state, or local law relating to criminal, civil, or administrative discovery procedures or legislative investigatory power.

The Library resists the issuance or enforcement of any such process, order or subpoena until such time as a proper showing of good cause has been made in a court of competent jurisdiction.

The USA PATRIOT Act of 2001 (P.L. 107- 56) supercedes state law and expands the federal government's authority for access to library records and documents to protect against international terrorism and clandestine intelligence activities. It also expands federal law enforcements' authorization to track telephone and electronic communication, including any dialing, routing, addressing, or signaling information and the actual content of the communication. This law prohibits library workers from informing you if federal agents have obtained records about you.

Privacy

The Worcester Public Library facilitates access to information and ideas by providing resources in a variety of forms both in the library and remotely via its website and email. It supports an environment that is respectful of the privacy of all users and adheres to the Massachusetts privacy laws.

The Worcester Public Library will collect no personal information about users when they visit its website unless the user chooses to provide that information. However, some information is collected and stored automatically when people browse the website remotely, read pages, or download information. The library uses this information to make its website more useful and to learn about the number of users to its site and the types of technology they use. The library does not track or record information about individuals and their visits. The following information is collected and it does not identify the users personally:

1. The Internet domain, for example, "xcompany.com" if you use a private Internet access account, or "your school.edu" if you connect from a university.

2. The IP address from which you access our web site. An IP address is a number that uniquely identifies one computer to other computers connected to the Internet so they can communicate.

3. The type of browser and operating system used to access our site.

4. The date and time you access our site.

5. The pages you visit.

6. If you linked to the Worcester Public Library web site from another web site, the address of that web site.

If you use the library's "Ask a Librarian" email reference service, the library needs some personal information to respond to your questions. Some demographic information such as state and zip code is used in the aggregate for statistical reporting, but no personal identifying information is kept.

Worcester Public Library users may check their records and reserve materials online using their personal identification numbers. The Library may electronically transmit notices about materials and library announcements of a general nature. Worcester Public Library does not collect information for commercial marketing.

The library's website has links to many federal, state, and private organizations. Once you link to another site, you are subject to the privacy policy of the new site.

When people use computers in the library, the library employs traditional and software methods to equalize access by monitoring computer time to provide access for as many people as possible. The library does not retain identifiable personal information. Data is gathered in the aggregate for statistical reporting, analysis and planning purposes. Data is purged on a regular basis.

To comment on this policy and to obtain additional information, please contact the Worcester Public Library's webmaster or the Head Librarian, Penelope B. Johnson, at 508.799.1690.

5/6/2002 - Committee on Library Materials voted unanimously to recommend adoption by the Board.
May 14, 2002 - Board of Directors accepted committee's recommendation.

Tips for Users

The following sections present information to help use the Internet safely.

Choosing and evaluating sources

Users should evaluate Internet resources just as they do print materials, questioning the accuracy and completeness of the information. Users may find that beyond the Library's web site and supporting documents they may encounter material they find offensive.

The Worcester Public Library supports the right of each family to decide what is appropriate Internet use for their children.

http://www.worcpublib.org/collectionsservices/childrens.html#safety

Safety on the Net

For a good Internet experience, be aware of the following:

1. Don't give out personal information like phone number, address, etc.

2. Be careful about meeting someone you have met online in person. Meet in a public place and let someone know where you're going.

3. Report harassing behavior to library staff and use good "netiquette" yourself.

4. Be wary of the information and advice you get online. Not all of the information on the Internet is accurate, appropriate, or unbiased.

5. Beware of moneymaking scams like pyramid schemes and chain letters.

6. If you have children or teens using the Internet at home, put the computer in a common family room and go online together. Discuss rules with your children and post them near the computer. Meet your children's online friends.

(Links)
http://www.ou.edu/oupd/inetmenu.htm
http://www.missingkids.com