BEDFORD PUBLIC LIBRARY

COMPUTER AND INTERNET ACCEPTABLE USE POLICY

CHILDREN’S AND YOUNG ADULT SERVICES

Computer workstations are designed for individual use.  Workstation users are given one hour of time that may be extended to a maximum of two hours if no one is waiting. 

Persons less than 14 should use computers located on the Children’s and Young Adult Services floor.  These computers are also available to parents and caregivers who have children under 12 with them.  Children will be given priority on all computers located on this floor. 

Parents are responsible for supervising and approving their child’s use of the Internet at the Bedford Public Library.  The Safe Policy for the Library requires all children less than 12 to be supervised by a parent or caregiver 14 years of age or older.  Written parental permission on a child’s library card application is required for a child 0-13 to access the Internet in the Library.   

All Bedford Public Library computer systems are filtered to protect against access to obscenity, child pornography, and sexually explicit graphical materials as required by the Children’s Internet Protection Act of 2001.  Filtering software is

not 100 percent effective; parents and individuals must assume responsibility for Internet use.  The Library does not act “in loco parentis”; therefore a parent or a legal guardian is responsible for their child’s use of the Internet.

UNACCEPTABLE USE:

• Illegal use that violates state or federal law
• Harassment or violation of the privacy of others
• Violation of federal, state, or local obscenity laws, including the viewing or printing of sexually explicit materials in public areas
• Attempts to abuse, modify, or harm computer equipment
• Minors, less than 18, may not use Library computers for any type of interactive communication.  (Chat, e-mail, web-based mail or bulletin boards, instant messaging, or games)

The Library reserves the right to suspend or revoke the use of Library computer systems at any time without prior notice.  The Library reserves the right to inspect or observe the use made of its equipment and resources for the purposes of enforcement of these policies.  The Library will be the sole arbitrator of what constitutes abusive conduct or violation of this Acceptable Use Policy.

Approved by the Bedford Public Library Board February 4, 2004