SHELTER ROCK PUBLIC LIBRARY
The Shelter Rock Public Library provides unfiltered
access to the Internet on all its Public Internet Workstations, including those
used by children, in accordance with our mission to provide free and open
access to a broad spectrum of information.
In addition, filter technology currently available fails to protect
users from access to inappropriate websites and often blocks access to very
appropriate websites. The Library does
not monitor use of its Public Internet Workstations, including those used by
children. Thus, parents of minor
children must assume the sole and full responsibility for the use of the
Library’s Public Internet Workstations by their minor children.
The Library makes a concerted effort to
provide ready access to information about safe use of the Internet. To comply
with the Neighborhood Children’s Internet Protection Act (NCIPA), the Library’s
current Internet Policy is reaffirmed and expanded to emphasize how it
addresses Internet practices that promote the confidentiality, privacy and
personal safety of minor children, and how it can assist parents and children
to prevent, when reasonably possible, the exposure of children to materials
harmful to minors and to materials that are inappropriate for minors to access
on the Internet, such as nudity of a sexual nature and sexual acts/text.
A. Responsibility for Materials Minor
Children Should Use. The Library
assumes no responsibility for the use of the Internet by children. Each family has the right and responsibility
to decide what materials minor children will read, listen, view or create using
the Public Internet Workstations at the Shelter Rock Public Library. Parents
are encouraged to directly supervise their children’s activities by
accompanying them to the Library and by remaining close by throughout the
family’s visit. Library staff members can provide general guidance for adults,
teens, and children in selection and use of age appropriate materials, but
their advice cannot be tailored to the opinions or perspectives of each
individual or family.
The Library assists patrons by providing information about the
selection of Internet resources that are suitable for children. Parents can
review those resources at all Public Internet Workstations and at the
Circulation Desk. Parents and teens may also review suggestions about Internet
use available at Internet sites recommended for that purpose: (http://www.safekids.com and http://safeteens.com).
B. Responsibility for Use of Direct Electronic Communications. Parents should determine if is appropriate for their minor children to
use direct electronic communications such as Internet e-mail, chat-rooms,
instant messaging, etc. at the Library. If they permit their child to do so, it
is their responsibility to instruct young children and teens not to share
information that strangers could use to identify them, their family, their
friends, their house, or their school. Parents should also instruct children
not to respond to messages that make them feel uncomfortable, including those
that are bullying, suggestive, obscene, threatening, or otherwise
inappropriate. Parents and/or children should immediately report such
messages received while at the Library to a staff member.
C. Illegal and Inappropriate Use of
Internet Is Prohibited. The Shelter Rock Public Library Internet
Policy prohibits illegal use of the Internet by children, teens, and
adults. Illegal uses of the Internet include, but are not limited to, viewing
or printing child pornography, hacking, identity theft, false representation
for fraudulent or illegal purposes, and violation
of copyright. Inappropriate uses include, but are not limited to, viewing or printing obscene materials.
Everyone who signs up to use the Internet at the Library must indicate
in writing that they have read and understood this policy. Anyone who does not
abide by that policy will be asked to end his or her use of the Internet and to
leave the Library. Repeat violations may result in loss of Internet use
privileges. Illegal uses will be reported to the appropriate authorities.
D. Providing Personal Information Over the Internet. Everyone who uses the Internet resources whether at home, at school, or
at the Library, must be very careful not to provide personal identification
information to unknown parties. This is of particular importance for young
children and teens who, unfortunately, may be targeted as potential victims of
crime.
Under the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act of 1998 (COPPA),
certain commercial websites that collect personal identification information
from their users cannot do so for children under the age of 13 without
parental consent. Young children must abide by that restriction whenever it
is stated at the website.
Information about protecting personal identification
information is available at Public Internet Workstations and at the Circulation
Desk and at websites recommended by staff members. Parents and children, including teens, are strongly encouraged to
carefully review that information.
E. Software Filters. The
Shelter Rock Public Library does not use software filters on any Public
Internet Workstations in the Library. Before any child under the age of 18 is allowed to use workstations at
the Library, their parent is given a copy of the Library’s Internet Policy and
must acknowledge in writing that:
·
they know that
their child’s access to the Internet is unfiltered and unrestricted, and
·
they
nevertheless give their child permission to use the Internet at the Library.
Parents are advised to instruct their children
to report any harmful or inappropriate materials that they come across, whether
text or images, to a parent and/or Library staff member.