Public Use of the Internet at the Tacoma Public Library

The Tacoma Public Library offers free public internet access to valid card holders on about 180 computers installed system-wide.  All stations allow access to the Library catalog, databases and web site.  Most stations allow general internet access, the use of office applications for word processing, spreadsheets, databases, etc. Not all internet sites may be accessible from all stations due to technical and other issues. Anyone using public internet computers must follow the Tacoma Public Library Policy for Public Use of the Internet (displayed below).

Note:

1.    Policy #10.53 was Adopted March 2004.

2.  Policy #10.53 was Revised April 2010.

3.    Policy #10.53 (Rev. 4/10) was Rescinded (May 2010)

4.    Policy #10.53 (Adopted March 2004) was “re-Adopted” May 2010)

Policy for Public Use of the Internet

 TACOMA PUBLIC LIBRARY

Administrative Policy #10.53

Policy Statement

The Mission Statement of the Tacoma Public Library emphasizes sensitivity to community changes and needs, and commits the Library to the delivery of excellent services:

The mission of the Tacoma Public Library is to provide the highest quality public library services to fulfill the informational, educational, recreational and cultural needs of the citizens in the dynamic and changing community of Tacoma, which is comprised of many ethnic and economic backgrounds, and, further, to recognize changes that occur in society and to adapt these changes to the delivery of people-oriented library services.

To fulfill its mission, the Library has earned a reputation for adopting new information technologies into its information services program. The Library views the Internet, a vast and interconnected network of information providers, as an information technology with the potential to expand the universe of information available to the people of Tacoma far beyond the reach of the Library's own collection. Furthermore, the Library believes that it is essential that the Internet information resources be integrated with the other information systems of the Library. The Library also recognizes that the very nature of the Internet is evolving rapidly and, therefore, the Board of Trustees of the Tacoma Public Library intends this policy to be updated and amended from time to time as may be necessary.

The Internet is global in scope, with a highly diverse user population and information content. The Internet is an unregulated medium and the Tacoma Public Library has no control over any part of the Internet beyond its own homepages. Because the Library is not able to exercise the same selection criteria to Internet resources that it applies to materials held in its collections, the Library may provide hardware and software mechanisms to restrict access to specific sources determined by Library staff to be inconsistent with its mission and collection development policies. Some information content on the Internet may be offensive to some people and some content may be illegal, out-of-date, or erroneous. It is the responsibility of the user, therefore, to determine what materials are appropriate and suitable for his or her use.

Parents may be concerned about the use of Internet information services by their children. The Library affirms the right and responsibility of parents to supervise their children's use of library resources, including Internet services. The Library will make available to parents upon request such publications as "Child Safety on the Information Superhighway" as a guide to children using the Internet.

The Library also recognizes that parental control and guidance cannot always be provided with regard to unintended viewing of images displayed in public places; that data collected and analyzed by the Library evidences the potential for considerable and pervasive intended and unintended display of sexually explicit images at Internet terminals in the Tacoma Public Library; that the Library has a compelling interest in preventing the display of sexually explicit images in view of children at the public Library; that the use of partitions and other devices to shield Internet terminals will only reduce the field of view while still allowing the open public display of sexually explicit images; that limited filtering will be more effective in preventing public display of such images in the library; that the use of the library internet terminals without implementation of a filtering policy will carry with it a significant danger of exposure of children to such sexually explicit images.  The Library, therefore, has implemented hardware and software mechanisms to restrict access to specific sexually explicit images, which hardware and software are designed to minimally intrude upon the rights of persons to exercise their constitutionally protected right to disseminate and receive speech.

By making use of Internet services at the Tacoma Public Library, patrons agree to abide by the provisions of this "Policy for Public Use of the Internet".

2. Levels of Service

A. In-Library Public Use

Access to a variety of Internet services, including Gopher, the World Wide Web, and connections to the catalogs of other libraries, is presently provided at selected terminals within the Library as a supplement to the Library Catalog and the other electronic information resources of the Library. The Library may offer other Internet services as deemed appropriate by the Library. Such additional services must meet the informational and service goals of the Library and it must be technically feasible to offer such services in a secure and cost-effective manner.   The Library will not offer chat, or gaming.  At the beginning of each Internet session, the user will indicate assent to a “Conditions of Use” statement which appears on the screen and which is reproduced below.

(This “Condition of Use” statement will be shown on the screen when a user logs on to selected Internet services. Acceptance of the conditions will be indicated when the user clicks the "I agree" button.)

The Internet is global in scope with a highly diverse user population and information content. The Tacoma Public Library has no control over any part of the Internet beyond its own homepages and is not able to exercise the same selection criteria to Internet resources that it applies to materials held in its collections. Some information content on the Internet may be offensive to some people and some content may be illegal, out-of-date, or erroneous. It is the responsibility of the user, therefore, to determine what material is appropriate and suitable for his or her use.

Parents may be concerned about the use of Internet information services by their children. The Library affirms the right and responsibility of parents to supervise their children's use of library resources, including Internet services. The Library will make available to parents upon request such publications as "Child Safety on the Information Superhighway" as a guide to children using the Internet.

By using Internet services through the Tacoma Public Library, users agree that the Library will not be responsible 1) for any indirect, consequential, special, or punitive damages or losses which may arise in their use of the Internet, and 2) for the accuracy, appropriateness, or suitability of any materials or information retrieved, displayed, or printed.

Users of Library Internet services should have no expectation of privacy while using the Internet. The Library reserves the right to refuse to post or to remove any information or materials, in whole or in part, that, in its sole discretion, are unacceptable or in violation of its policies. Chat and gaming are not authorized uses.

Use of the Internet through the Library shall be governed by and in accordance with applicable laws and regulations and with the rules and policies of the Tacoma Public Library.  All users of the Internet are required to have a valid Tacoma Public Library card.

By using Internet services through the Library, users agree to abide by the “Policy for Public Use of the Internet” Policy #10.53, adopted by the Tacoma Public Library Board of Trustees. Copies of this Policy are available upon request.

The Library may make available through a free dial-in service a variety of electronic information resources, including the Library Catalog and selected Internet services. Some dial-in services may or may not be available during hours when the Library is open due to licensing restrictions. Other licensing restrictions on particular services may require the user to have a valid Tacoma Public Library card and personal identification number (PIN). Dial-in access to Internet services will, as determined by the Board of Trustees of the Tacoma Public Library, require a valid Tacoma Public Library card. Dial-in users of selected Internet services will be presented with the “Conditions of Use” statement shown above. An individual is responsible for all use made of library card or PIN.

 3. General Provisions

The Library may from time to time adopt regulations setting time limits on any of its workstations and dial-in ports in order to maximize the efficient and effective use of the Internet and other Library information resources.

Transaction logs and other system information that could be used to identify users with specific materials or subject matter are considered by the Library to be confidential, as provided for by Administration Policy 10.23, "Confidentiality of Records Policy."

The Library reserves the right to apply hardware and software control mechanisms to ensure that information provided through its Internet services is consistent with its mission and collection development policies. It is further the policy of the Tacoma Public Library to implement measures including, without limitation, technology protection measures, with respect to its computers with access to the internet, that protect against visual depictions that are obscene, child pornography, or harmful to minors; provided that, access to the Internet shall be made available without such measures in place upon request of persons 17 years of age or older for bona-fide research or any other lawful purpose. For purposes of this policy, the terms used herein, shall have the same meaning as given in the Children's Internet Protection Act (114 Stat. 2763A-335) as now or hereafter amended. The Library’s acquisition of Internet materials to be made available to Library patrons does not include graphic materials depicting full nudity and sexual acts which are portrayed obviously and exclusively for sensational or pornographic purposes.

The Internet terminals and software must be used as installed. Any person tampering with Library software to support Internet access beyond those services and software supplied by the Library, or in any other way adding to, modifying, or removing any system software or hardware, may have his or her use of Internet services limited or suspended, and may be banned from the Library, as provided for by Board Policy #10.49, “Exclusion from Library Premises.”

A user may not use the computing resources of the Tacoma Public Library for any illegal or unauthorized act or in violation of any library rule or policy or of any local, state, or federal laws or regulations.

Library computing resources are to be shared among users. Therefore, an individual user or group of users may not engage in any behavior that unreasonably interferes with or disrupts the use of computing resources by others. Disruptions include, but are not limited to: distribution of unsolicited advertising; propagation of computer viruses, worms, or other computer programs that have the potential of damaging or destroying programs or data; harassment of other persons; and using computer resources to make unauthorized entry to any computer accessible via the network, including the host systems at the Tacoma Public Library.

Each network that a user connects to has its own set of policies and procedures. Actions which might be allowed on one network may be controlled or forbidden on another. It is the user's responsibility to abide by the policies and procedures of these other networks.

When downloading software, files, or data, it is the user's responsibility to check for copyright protection or any licensing agreement and to comply with the requirements of that copyright or licensing agreement.