Farmington, NM Public Library
INTERNET USE POLICY

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INTERNET USE POLICY

Background

It is the intent of the Farmington Public Library to provide free, equitable, and organized public access to Internet resources. This access honors the fundamental library principle of intellectual freedom, an abiding respect for the dignity and privacy of individual inquiry.

The Farmington Public Library is committed to:

• providing public access to this new communication medium
• the development and/or purchase of local information resources (such as the catalog of our holdings, periodical indexes and databases, and other text files and databases of local or regional interest)
• the identification and organization of links to resources the library believes fit its general collection policies, including selected professional concerns such as training in the use of the Internet, censorship, literacy, etc.
• search tools that reach far beyond the efforts of the Farmington Public Library to the manifold offerings of the Internet.
• making appropriate Policy changes as needed.

Disclaimer

In total, the Farmington Public Library has no control over information accessed through the Internet. We cannot be held responsible for its content. As with other library materials, supervision or restriction of a child's access to the Internet is the responsibility of the parent or legal guardian. It is also the responsibility of the child, whose curiosity is surely tempered by his or her judgment and upbringing. For access to computer resources that are age appropriate, it is recommended that children under the age of twelve use the computers designated for children's use.

Much of the information on the Internet is timely, useful, and/or entertaining. Some of it is dated, erroneous, or offensive. This is also the case with printed materials. Library users should cast a cautious and critical eye on any and all data they discover. The job of the library is access, not endorsement.

Unacceptable Use of Electronic Resources

Any of the following actions may result in the loss of library privileges and/or criminal prosecution or other legal action.

Unacceptable use of the Farmington Public Library's electronic resources includes, but is not limited to, the following:

1. It is not acceptable to use Farmington Public Library's electronic resources for illegal or criminal use. It is not acceptable to violate the legal protections provided by copyright and licenses to program or data.
2. Infoway does not permit email solicitation or the transmission of unsolicited email.
3. It is not acceptable to access nudity or pornographic images, or to engage in sexually explicit messages or sexually explicit chat. Profanity shall not be used in communicating. The user will be held responsible for all language and graphics displayed on the monitor.
4. It is not acceptable to use Farmington Public Library resources to seek to infiltrate a computer or computing system and/or damage or alter the software or hardware components of a local or remote computer or computing system.
5. It is not acceptable to seek information on, obtain copies of, or modify files, other data, or passwords belonging to other users. Users shall not represent themselves as another user unless explicitly authorized to do so by that user.
6. It is not acceptable to falsify information to gain access to Internet sites.
7. It is not acceptable to use our Internet workstations beyond time limits established by library staff. The primary purpose of our Internet workstations is to aid research. If patrons are waiting for the workstation, however, use of the terminal will be limited to a total of thirty minutes. If a patron has already been using a terminal for 30 minutes, the patron will be expected to surrender use of the terminal immediately. Patrons using library Internet access off site are currently limited to two (2) hours per day. Time limits may change without notice. In general, we expect that our patrons will be both law-abiding and civil.

Links from the Library's web site

A "link" (hypertext reference) from the library's home pages to other sites does not imply endorsement of the views expressed at those sites. These links are carefully evaluated and selected, according to the library's collection development policy. Links are selected based upon the following criteria: currency, authority, organization, and accessibility. The Library Administrator, in keeping with the general goals described above, is responsible for the selection of the links.

"Local" links provide access to community information and services primarily or largely directed to San Juan County citizens. In general, the library does not link to individual businesses, although it may include such umbrella organizations as area Chambers of Commerce. The library Web site is not to be considered a public forum. The library may provide links to issues or subjects that may be of educational or entertainment value to its patrons. Such links may be changed discretion of the Library Administrator.

4-06-2004

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