Approved by: Library Board
Approved Date: November 16, 2011
Revised Date: December 13, 2017
Review Schedule: Every 5 years
Next Review Date: 2022
As part of its ongoing mission to provide the public with the broadest possible spectrum of educational and recreational materials, Ramsey County Library offers public access to the internet. Internet resources are, by their nature, not subject to the Library’s traditional procedures for selection of materials. The Library filters internet resources in order to block obscene content. The Library does not accept responsibility for any information found on the internet including, but not limited to, inaccurate, outdated, or offensive information.
Requirements for Acceptable Use of the Internet
The Library requires that internet users shall:
- Display or access material in accordance with copyright laws and database license agreements.
- Make use of Library hardware and software in a responsible manner that does not deliberately disrupt or degrade the integrity of data, or compromise technical performance standards of the Library’s computer system.
- Refrain from activity that deliberately seeks to create a threatening or hostile environment for staff or other library users. Such activity includes, but is not limited to, the use of shared printers to reproduce offensive material from the internet, if this action has the effect of creating a threatening or hostile environment for a reasonable person.
- Refrain from any online or other activity prohibited by state or federal law.
Disclaimer
Ramsey County Library expects all persons who access the internet through its facilities to conduct themselves in accordance with state and federal laws and regulations. In particular, this means that internet users will comply with laws governing obscenity, child pornography and materials harmful to minors.
Ramsey County Library does not accept responsibility for any damage caused or incurred by persons who choose to access the internet through the Library. In particular, the public is advised that the Library cannot protect the privacy of data that is transmitted to third parties via the internet.
Internet filtering
As provided by law, any Library patron who is 17 years or older may request that filtering software at a Library workstation be temporarily disabled on an individual basis without offering any explanation or justification, other than proof of age. Due to technical limitations, the Library will not disable filtering on its wireless network.
Despite efforts of staff and filtering software developers, no filtering software is infallible. Constitutionally permitted material may occasionally be blocked by our filters, and proscribed material may occasionally evade the filters. For these reasons, Library users must exercise their own judgment in undertaking internet usage. In all cases, whether filtering is or is not in place, individuals who access the internet through the Library shall conform to legal and procedural requirements outlined in the Disclaimer and in the Requirements for Acceptable Use of the Internet as listed in this policy.
Limitations on Use
Individual branches may place limitations on time and manner of internet use, in order to regulate internet access as equitably as possible, and to respect the rights and concerns of all Library users.
Children’s Use
The Library recognizes that the responsibility for the guidance and regulation of a child’s use of the internet lies with the parent or caregiver. For that reason, the Library urges caregivers to work with their children to foster productive and satisfactory online experiences.
As a convenience to caregivers, individual branches may establish certain additional guidelines governing manner and time of use for internet terminals that are specially designated for use by children and caregivers.
Failure to Comply
Failure to comply with the regulations of this Internet Access policy may result in loss of access to Library services and facilities. Appropriate legal sanctions will be used against those who willfully violate the provisions of this policy.
