SCLD Policies / Customer Use of Internet Resources Policy

It is the policy of Spokane County Library District to make Internet resources available to its customers, together with its collection of library materials, access to licensed electronic resources, and access to electronic databases, as a means of providing information in support of its mission.

The District offers materials and information in a variety of formats and media, with selection guided by its Collection Development Policy. Its goal in providing Internet resources is to enhance its collection in size and depth with information that may not be otherwise available or as up-to-date. In addition, it extends access to this information resource to all citizens.

As the District limits its selection of materials based on Collection Development Policy criteria and fiscal constraints, the District may limit customer access to Internet functions which it determines to be inconsistent with its mission and goals or consume more resources than the benefit derived in support of the mission and goals.

It is the District’s policy to comply with the requirements of the Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA) and the June 23, 2003 United States Supreme Court decision relating thereto. In doing so, the District understands that the required technology protection measures may not be fully effective in blocking intended sites and may inadvertently block unintended sites.

DISTRICT RESPONSIBILITIES

1. To assist customers in finding useful information, the District will provide on its website links to suggested resources that are consistent with its mission and goals, including youth-oriented resources with age-appropriate reading levels.
2. Library staff will be available to provide customer assistance.
3. As with other library materials, services and programs, the District will not limit minors' access to Web content beyond that required by CIPA and affirms the right and responsibility of parents and guardians to determine and monitor their children's use of Internet resources.
4. The District will assist parents and guardians in their exercise of their rights and responsibilities to limit their minor children’s access to inappropriate matter on the Internet and the Web and restrict their children’s access to materials harmful to minors by:
1. Limiting computer workstations, located in or near the children’s and teen areas in each branch, to Internet access using technology protection measures that block to the extent technically possible, visual depictions that are obscene, child pornography, harmful to minors (as defined in the United States Code[1] and case law) and in addition, block chat functions workstations in or near children’s areas.
2. For all other Internet workstations, providing technology protection measures that block visual depictions that are obscene and child pornography for all customers, and in addition for minors age 16 and under, visual depictions that are harmful to minors (as defined in the United States Code[1] and case law).
3. Providing parents with the option of not allowing Internet access for their child(ren).
5. Because no filtering software employed as a technology protection measure can evaluate and block images, the least restrictive software blocking categories that by their definitions appear to include prohibited visual depictions will be used.
6. For customers 17 and older, the District will provide a method to allow the library patron to disable the technology protection measures, without staff intervention, at the beginning of each Internet session.
7. To assure that customers of all ages are able to access Internet sites that have been mistakenly blocked, the District will provide a method by which they can request that such sites be unblocked and library staff will unblock such sites in a timely manner.
8. The District will make parents and guardians aware that it cannot assure their children’s safety and security while using the Internet in the library. When they use electronic mail, chat rooms, and other forms of direct electronic communication, the District:
1. Cannot protect against their children's unauthorized access, including "hacking," and other unlawful online activities; and
2. Cannot protect against unauthorized disclosure, use, and dissemination of personal identification information regarding their children if their children provide such information while using the Internet.
9. Information regarding Internet access restrictions will be provided to all customers at the time of library card registration and will be available in print and on the District's website. Information on Internet youth safety will also be provided for minors and their parents.
10. Customers' use of Internet resources will be managed in a manner consistent with the District's Customer Conduct Policy.

CUSTOMER RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Individual library users are responsible for determining the suitability of content for their purposes. The District does not control or monitor information that may be accessible from Internet sources. Information may be reliable and current, or it may be inaccurate, offensive, or illegal.
2. Adults are responsible for determining whether they wish to use or disable the technology protection measure. CIPA requires that everyone age 16 and under use the technology protection measures; parents may not authorize that they be disabled for their children.
3. Parents and guardians have a right and responsibility to use personal supervision and/or the technological means provided by the District to:
1. Limit their children's access to inappropriate matter on the Internet and the Web;
2. Assure their children's safety and security when using electronic mail, chat rooms, and other forms of direct electronic communication;
3. Protect against unauthorized access, including "hacking," and other unlawful online activities by their children;
4. Protect against unauthorized disclosure, use, and dissemination of personal identification information regarding minors; and
5. Restrict their children's access to materials harmful to minors.
4. Customers are requested to exercise appropriate discretion in viewing materials. The District will not guarantee privacy for individuals using library public access computers to search the Internet and computer screens may be visible to people of all ages, backgrounds, and sensibilities.
5. Customers are to honor District procedures and security measures, and to follow Federal and Statelaws applying to use of the Internet.

Violation of this policy may be cause for a temporary or permanent prohibition from future use of library equipment or facilities, consistent with the Customer Conduct Policy.

The District’s director is responsible for establishing procedures to carry out this Policy.

[1] The Children's Internet Protection Act provides United States Code citations for the definitions of "obscene" (18 U.S.C. § 1460) and "child pornography" (18 U.S.C. § 2256). The Act itself defines "harmful to minors" in Section 1703 (b)(2).

Adopted by the Spokane County Library District Board of Trustees: May 21, 1998
Revised June 20,2006
Latest Review and Reaffirmation: July 15, 2008