The Internet offers the citizens of Williamson County a unique opportunity to access materials in support of their intellectual, educational, social, cultural and recreational needs beyond the confines of the Williamson County Public Library's collection. The library is pleased to offer patrons free access to the Internet on workstations located in the Circulation area and at the Reference Desk.
Internet access is available during the library's regular hours of operation. This access is subject to periodic maintenance, or technical difficulties that may arise, which may cause the access to be temporarily unavailable.
Library patrons must abide by the Library's Internet Acceptable Use Agreement policy posted at the workstations where Internet access is provided. It is the patron's responsibility to read and accept the current version of the Acceptable Use Agreement. The patron, and not the library, is responsible for their own use of the Internet. Failure to abide by the rules established by the library as acceptable use of the Internet will result in the termination of a patron's privilege to access the Internet.
Children 16 years of age and under must have a signed permission slip from their parent or guardian on file in the library to use the Internet without staff assistance. A red sticker will be placed on the child's library card when parental permission has been granted for that child to access the Internet without the supervision of a parent or guardian. Library staff will halt an Internet search attempted by a child under the age of 16 who does not have a permission slip on file in the library, or is not accompanied by library staff.
Parents are strongly urged to read the pamphlet Child Safety on the Information Highway to their children. The pamphlet is available in the Children's Department or at the link provided above.
Internet access is provided as an educational resource. Not all sources on the Internet provide accurate, complete, or current information. It is the patron's responsibility to determine the validity of the information viewed. Patrons are reminded that their information needs may be satisfied through the library's more traditional Reference sources. If the Internet terminal is not available, consultation of the library's Reference collection may answer your question.
Library staff is available to assist patrons in accessing the Internet, but the patron is responsible for his or her Internet search. Library staff cannot provide in-depth personal training in the use of the Internet or personal computers. Internet trained staff may not be available for help at all times.
The library staff will not perform reference searches on the Internet at the request of telephone patrons.
Disclaimer
Since the Internet is a global network of ungoverned and unregulated information, the Williamson County Public Library is not responsible for the content, validity, or currency of any information found on the Internet that the library did not create.
There is information available on the Internet that the patron may find personally controversial or inappropriate. It is the patron's responsibility not to view sites they determine as inappropriate. The library can not protect the patron from information he or she may find offensive, and is not responsible for such as information.
Library patrons must determine the validity of content for themselves and their children and be good information consumers. Each user is responsible for his or her activities on the Internet and for the activities of his or her child.
The library staff does not act in loco parentis for children who use the library. It is the responsibility of the parent or guardian to determine what is appropriate for his or her own child. The parent or guardian, and not the library staff may restrict his or her child from access to the Internet. The parent or guardian, and not the library staff, is responsible for the Internet information selected and or accessed by his or her child.
The library has chosen Internet sites of interest to patrons and has linked them to the library's web page; however, the library is not responsible for changes in content of sources linked. If you feel information obtained from the Internet is inaccurate or offensive, contact the producer/distributor of that information, not the library.
Williamson County Public Library
COMPUTER ACCEPTABLE USE AGREEMENT
It is the responsibility of the Patron to read and accept these guidelines prior to using the Library’s computers as stated in this COMPUTER ACCEPTABLE USE AGREEMENT. Patron agrees that by using any library computer that he/she has read and understands this Use Agreement and agrees to all of the terms contained herein. For the purpose of this Use Agreement, “Minors” are defined as Patrons under the age of 18 years.
By using the library’s computers, the Patron agrees that the library is not responsible for the content, validity, or currency of any information found on the Internet whether or not it was provided by the library or created by the library.
The Library reserves the right to terminate any Patron’s computer session that in the sole opinion of the Library employee that the Patron’s actions is disrupting any other individual or involves behavior that violates any Library policies.
Residents of Williamson County and other registered Patrons must have a current library card in good standing to use the library’s computers.
Any Patron who owes any outstanding fines for late books or violates any other Library rule or policy which may involve fines will not be allowed to use the Library’s computers until the Patron has paid the amount of the fine in full.
Visitor computer passes may be issued to temporary non-resident library users at the sole discretion of the Library.
Telephone reservations for library computers will not be permitted under any circumstances.
Computer use Restrictions at the Main Library and Fairview Public Library:
Children’s Homework Center computers – Prior to any use, a minor Patron shall provide a signed Parental Permission allowing the minor use of the Internet computers.
Children’s Pre-School computers – may be used by pre-school and minor Patrons.
Computer Center and Internet With a View zones at the Main branch – only adult Patrons may use these computers.
Research Computers do not offer Internet access. These computers may be used by minors without a signed parental permission form.
Special Collections department at the Main branch – computers are restricted to Patrons conducting research in the department.
Teen Zone computers located in the Young Adults Room at the Main branch – minors between the ages of 13 through 18 and with signed Parental Permission slips are authorized to use these computers for internet access.
Patron computer sessions are to be no longer than 30 minutes, unless noted otherwise. The Patron may continue use of the computer if the computer has not been reserved and if no one is waiting.
The library will conform to all local, state, and federal laws regarding minor’s access to materials harmful to minors. Therefore, all the computers are filtered according to Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA).
No Patron under the age of 18 years of age may request non-filtered Internet access at the Reference Service Desk. Patrons accompanied by a child or children under 18 years of age may not request non-filtered internet access. Any Patron 18 years or older may request non-filtered internet access.
The Williamson County Public Library prohibits the unauthorized disclosure, use, or dissemination of personal information regarding Library users, including minors. Personally identifiable information about users may not be disclosed or used in any way, except to law enforcement authorities as provided in the law. Users should be aware, however, that due to the technical difficulties involved in providing absolute security, transactions and files may become public. User agrees to hold Williamson County, Williamson County Library and any of its employees, agents, volunteers or officers from any liability regarding the dissemination of personal information.
Children 16 years of age and under may not access the Internet 1) without the direct supervision of a parent or guardian, or 2) without written permission from their parent or guardian on file at the library.
As with all other Library resources, the Library is not responsible for monitoring the internet habits or use of the internet by any minor and as such shall not be liable for any action, damage or injury related to the minor’s use of the computer, and that such responsibility lies solely with the Parent or Guardian to determine and monitor their minor children’s use of the Internet. Parents are responsible for their minor children’s use of the Library’s resources and facilities. All computer users should avoid disclosing personal information over the Internet to preserve their own personal safety. Library Computer users are prohibited by law from disclosing, using, or disseminating personal information regarding minors without written authorization of the parent or legal guardian of the minors involved.
Patrons are strictly forbidden to view sites that are inappropriate for display in a public setting according to the community standard on library computers.
In accordance with the Tennessee Code Title 39, Chapter 17, Part 9, sending, receiving, or displaying text or graphics that may be reasonably construed as obscene by community standards are prohibited, regardless of age. Inappropriate may be defined as “including, but not limited to, materials that are obscene; that an average person applying contemporary community standards would find the work taken as a whole lacks serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value.”
While using any Library computer, a patron is not permitted to:
Attempt unauthorized access to the library’s network.
Install or download programs on a computer’s hard drive.
Attempt to damage the computer equipment.
Alter software configurations on the desktop.
Use the library workstation for illegal or criminal purposes.
Violate copyright laws, or software licensing agreements.
Violate another user's privacy.
Engage in any of the following activities:
Libeling or slandering of others, uploading a worm, virus, or other harmful form of programming or vandalism; participate in hacking activities or any form of unauthorized access to other computers, networks, or information systems.
Computer users are prohibited from using the library computers to compromise the safety and security of minors when using e-mail, chat rooms and other forms of direct electronic communications. Such use includes but is not limited to: Giving others private information about one’s self or others or arranging a face-to-face meeting with someone one has met on the Internet without a parent or legal guardian’s permission.
Documents and web pages may be printed at the cost of 15 cents per page for black and white print outs and $1.00 per page for color print outs.
User agrees to hold Williamson County, Williamson County Library and any of its employees, agents, volunteers or officers from any liability damages or injuries that may be suffered by a Patron, whether an adult or a minor regarding use of any Library Computer unless otherwise provided for Under Tennessee Law.
The Patron understands and agrees that the Williamson County Public Library and Williamson County, Tennessee are not responsible for any damage, loss or inconvenience resulting from power interruption or loss, computer viruses, hardware failure or defects, software failure or defects, general equipment failure, data loss for any reason, corrupted files, or for any damage, loss or inconvenience that the Patron may experience for any reason whatsoever while using any Library Computer. Use of Library computers for internet access in any manner or for any reason is at the personal risk of the Patron. Williamson County Public Library and Williamson County, Tennessee are not responsible for any information entered by the user, including but not limited to name, address, telephone number, facsimile number, credit card information, personal identification information and the like. The Williamson County Public Library and Williamson County, Tennessee cannot guarantee the privacy of any information entered by the user. Use of the library computer equipment for any reason is at the risk of the Patron.
The above stated policies and
procedures have been approved by
Williamson County Public Library Board.
June 9, 2005
