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Hemingford Public Library Computer Use and WiFi Policy
5:52 PM EST 11/26/08
Hemingford Public Library Computer Use and WiFi Policy
(Revised 11/26/2008)
To fulfill its mission of providing public access to information of all types in a wide range of formats, the Hemingford Public Library provides public access to the Internet. The internet is a global network comprised of information, multimedia resources and social networks representing a variety of viewpoints and perspectives.
Library computers are available for use by all library customers for educational, research and information purposes. Customers are encouraged to :
Conduct Research
Complete homework assignments
Develop and practice computer skills
Improve literacy skills
Learn new languages
Send and receive e-mail
The Hemingford Public Library does not monitor and has no control over the information accessed through the internet and cannot be held responsible for its control.
All internet resources accessible through the library are provided equally to ALL library users. Parents or guardians, not the library staff, are responsible for the internet information selected and or accessed by their children. Parents may restrict their children from accessing the internet resources accessible through the library. Parents are advised to supervise their children’s internet sessions.
Computer Access and WIFI Access Policy
Patron (or parent/guardian if patron is under 18 years of age) must read and sign computer use policy.
Patron must have library card to access computer.
A time limit of 30 minutes will be enforced on each computer if others are waiting to use a computer.?
A fee of $0.15 per page is to be paid for use of the printer.
Printing is not available via the Library’s WIFI service.
You may not use your own software programs.
You may not use your own disks
Mobile computers must be checked out with a photo Identification that will be held by librarian during the entire length of check out period.
Mobile computers have a 30 minute checkout time limit.
Use of the Hemingford Public Library’s mobile computer is for in-library use only.
Mobile computers are not to leave the building.
Use of Hemingford Public Library’s mobile computer is with adult supervision, library staff excluded.
Customer use of HPL computers is limited to the existing equipment and software. Customers may not, under any circumstances:
*Delete any existing software programs
*Modify or alter any hard-drive settings
*Save personal files to the HPL computers or computer systems
*Introduce any virus, worm, spyware, Trojan horses or other program designed to harm the library equipment or software, or in any way compromise the safety and security of the library’s computers or computer system or computer users.
Customers may not use HPL computers for the commission of harmful or illegal activities,
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RE: Hemingford Public Library Computer Use and WiFi Policy
8:45 AM EST 12/1/08
as a reply to Deb Finley.
Deb,
I took a look and I have three comments/suggestions. Please keep in mind that these are my opinion and you are not required to make any changes to your existing policy base on what I have to say.
1. The big long list of "you may nots..."
Most of this stuff could be easily summarized as "you may not do anything illegal using this equipment." I tend to find overly long lists of "no, no, no" to lead people to be more afraid of doing something wrong than to actually want to use the equipment.
2. "You may not use your own disks"
This policy is generally considered outdated. As long as you're running up-to-date anti-virus software on your computer you're as protected as you can get. Since I'm assuming that viruses transmitted via floppy are the concern, to be honest, these days you're more likely to get infected by someone opening an e-mail attachment (which you do allow I again assume) than by putting in a floppy. Also, floppies are generally no longer big enough to store many files. As the policy is written floppies are not allowed but flash drives are and they're going to be more and more common every day.
3. "You may not use your own software programs."
This one is a newer issue. There is a class of software known as "portable applications" which run off flash drives and don't do anything permanent to the computer they're running on. For example, I can sit down at any computer, plug in my flash drive, and run my copy of Firefox with my bookmarks. Handy for me. Does nothing to your computer. (In fact, I can plug in my flash drive and run a version of Linux on your computer but most users won't do something that significant.) Again, as long as your anti-virus software is up-to-date, you're pretty much safe. Maybe you could rephrase it as "you will not install any software on library computers."
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RE: Hemingford Public Library Computer Use and WiFi Policy
3:15 PM EST 12/1/08
as a reply to Michael Sauers.
Hello Michael, Happy December! I have read your suggestions and that is exactly what I wanted , was your critique. I will be implementing your suggestions in the very near future to revise our policy. Thanks very much. Deb Finley/Hemingford Public Library
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