BCPL logo
HOME   CATALOG   LIBRARIES

Public Computer and Network Access Policy

 INTRODUCTION

Computers, networks and electronic information systems are essential resources for accomplishing the Bucks County Free Library (BCFL) mission to provide access to information and information services to residents of Bucks County.  These resources represent a substantial investment and must be managed responsibly to ensure their integrity and security.

The purpose of this policy is:

Violations of this policy may result in immediate termination of access to the BCFL network or networked computers, depending on the nature and severity of the violation, up to and including loss of computer privileges at Bucks County public libraries.

The topics covered in this document include:

Internet and E-Mail

The Internet is a global electronic network, enabling the library to provide information to its users beyond the library collection. It includes useful ideas, information and opinions from around the world and access to electronic communication, such as E-mail.

Internet users are responsible for the sites they reach, and should be aware that some information available on the Internet may be considered controversial, indecent or inappropriate. To ensure that library computer use is responsible and productive for Internet and e-mail users, the following guidelines have been established:

Library User Responsibilities 

All those who use the BCFL computer and network systems shall:

  1. Be responsible for the content of all text, audio, or images placed or sent over the Internet. All communications must have an individual’s name(s) attached.
  2. Abide by all applicable BCFL policies dealing with security. 
  3. Be considerate of fellow library users and community standards. In consideration for juvenile patrons, BCFL has a long-standing policy to filter for adult content on all children’s public computers. In order to comply with CIPA (Children's Internet Protection Act), the Library uses Technology Protection Measures to block or filter the Internet on all PCs. Blocking should be applied to visual depictions in 3 categories: Child Pornography, Obscenity, and Harmful to Minors. Adults age 17 and older may ask a staff member to unblock a site or disable a filter (for their session) if appropriate for constitutionally protected material. Children under 17 may ask to have a website unblocked temporarily for their information needs.
    [i]
  4. Be responsible for securing their own private information, such as credit card numbers, names, and addresses, sent over the Internet.

Those who use the BCFL computer and network systems shall not:

  1. Copy, transfer, rename, add, or delete information or programs belonging to another unless given express permission to do so by the owner. Failure to observe copyright or license agreements may result in disciplinary action by the institution and/or legal action by the copyright owner.
    [ii]
  2. Transmit copyrighted materials without permission.
  3. Send or forward chain e-mail, i.e., messages containing instructions to forward the message to others.
  4. Transmit any content that is offensive, harassing, or fraudulent.
  5. Conduct any illegal activities using BCFL systems.

All messages created, sent, or retrieved over the Network are the property of BCFL and may be regarded as public information. BCFL reserves the right to access the contents of any messages sent over its facilities if the management believes, in its sole judgment, that it has a business need to do so.

All communications, including text and images, can be disclosed to law enforcement or other third parties without prior consent of the sender or the receiver.

Computer Software and Hardware Devices

Computers provided for public use are configured with various computer software programs that are legally licensed and have been tested for compatibility with BCFL systems. Approved and tested hardware devices such as printers have also been set up and configured to work on the BCFL computer network. To ensure that library computer use does not weaken or damage network security or system reliability, the following guidelines have been established:

Library User Responsibilities

Those who use the BCFL computer and network systems shall not:

  1. Knowingly cause harm to BCFL or other systems using BCFL resources.
  2. Install any software onto BCFL systems including:
    1. File sharing programs, such as Gnutella, or
    2. Instant messaging programs, such as IRC, Yahoo/Microsoft Instant Messenger.
  3. Connect personal laptops or other computer systems to the BCFL network.
  4. Attach any external devices to BCFL systems such as USB hard drives, zip drives, cameras.

Computer Viruses

Computer viruses are programs designed to make unauthorized changes to computer programs and data. Viruses can interfere with the efficient operation of a network and cause destruction and/or loss of data.

It is important to know that:

Library User Responsibilities

All patrons who use the BCFL computer and network systems shall:

  1. Avoid knowingly introducing computer viruses into BCFL computer systems.
  2. Have all incoming media, such as diskettes and CD’s scanned for viruses .
  3. Immediately report any suspicion of virus infection to a library staff member.

Physical Security

It is BCFL policy to protect computer hardware, software, data, and documentation from misuse, theft, unauthorized access, and environmental hazards.

All those who use the BCFL computer and network systems shall:

  1. Be informed of and abide by computer signup guidelines and procedures established per building by local branch libraries.
  2. Be informed of and abide by the BCFL Behavior Policy.

[i] Policy is in place for the “internet safety for minors that includes the operation of a technology protection measure with respect to any of its computers with Internet access that protects against access to visual depictions that are 1) obscene; 2) child pornography; or 3) harmful to minors (a minor is anyone under the age of 17)”

Definitions:

OBSCENITY

1.        The average person applying contemporary community standards must find that the work, taken as a whole, appeals to purient interest.

2.        The work must depict in a patently offensive way, sexual conduct specifically defined by state law.

3.        the work, taken as a whole, must lack serious literary, artistic, political or scientific value.

CHILD PORNOGRAPHY (18 U.S.C.§ 2256)

1.        includes not only images of real children, but also computer images that are indistinguishable from a real minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct. Drawings, cartoons, sculptures or paintings depicting minors or adults are excluded from the definition. Images of actual adults that look like minors are also excluded.

[ii] Legal reference

Civil penalties

Violations of copyright law expose the responsible patron(s) to the following civil penalties:

·          Liability for damages suffered by the copyright owner

·          Profits that are attributable to the copying

·          Fines up to $100,000 for each illegal copy

Criminal penalties

Violations of copyright law that are committed “willfully and for purposes of commercial advantage or private financial gain (Title 18 § 2319(b)),” expose the patron(s) responsible to the following criminal penalties:

·           Fines up to $250,000 for each illegal copy

·           Jail terms of up to five years

CATALOG    Libraries    Library Programs    Cool Internet Sites    Search the Internet    Ask a Librarian
Online Resources    About Bucks County, PA    Kids!    Seniors!

150 S. Pine Street Doylestown PA   18901
This Web page is maintained by the Bucks County Public Library Web Team.
Librarywebmaster@buckslib.org

Copyright © 2004 The Bucks County Free Library

last updated 04/24/2004