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Palmdale City Library Policy #230 - Internet Use The Palmdale City Library provides access to the Internet to enhance the Library's collection and to allow access to ideas, information and commentary from around the globe. While the Internet offers opportunities to expand the scope of information available to users, it is an unregulated medium. The Library does not limit access to sites on the Internet nor to information that may be considered controversial or offensive by some. As a reasonable step toward protecting children, the Library employs filtering software on computers designated for use by youth. Library staff cannot maintain constant monitoring of Internet use and has no control over the information available through the Internet. Parents or guardians must monitor and supervise their children's use of the Internet. If and when feasible, the Library may implement software and hardware control mechanisms to prohibit information which the Library has determined to be inconsistent with its mission. To use the Library's Internet: a valid Palmdale City Library card is required; the cardholder must owe less than $10.00 in fines and fees; children under eighteen (18) must have a parent or legal guardian complete a permission form in the presence of Library staff; access is limited to two nonconsecutive hours per day per patron, including time required to print; latecomers lose their reservation if more than five minutes late; access to the youth Internet workstations is limited to those seventeen (17) and younger; the Library is not liable for any transactions conducted online; and a maximum of two people are allowed on one workstation. Use of the Internet is a privilege and inappropriate use will result in a cancellation of this privilege. Examples of inappropriate use include, but are not limited to: violation of computer system integrity; use of another patron’s library card unauthorized tampering with hardware or software; downloading or installing software; unauthorized access to minors; violation of another user's privacy; ---PAGE BREAK--- engagement in any activity which is deliberately and maliciously offensive, libelous or slanderous; violation of software license agreements and copyright laws; o U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S. Code) prohibits the unauthorized reproduction or distribution of copyrighted materials, except as permitted by the principals of "fair use." Users may not copy or distribute electronic materials (including electronic mail, text, images, programs or data) without the explicit permission of the copyright holder. Responsibility for any consequences of copyright infringement lies with the user; the Library expressly disclaims any liability or responsibility resulting from such use. accessing sites which contain pictorial material considered harmful to minors; o Section 313 of the California Penal Code states, "'Harmful matter' means matter, taken as a whole, which to the average person, applying contemporary statewide standards, appeals to the prurient interest and is matter which, taken as a whole, depicts or describes in a patently offensive way sexual conduct and which, taken as a whole, lacks serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value for minors." Viewing obscene, sexually explicit or harmful matter in the presence of a minor, or tampering with computer hardware or software will result in immediate and permanent loss of Internet privileges. For all other policy violations: first time offenders will be given a warning and have their internet privileges for that day ended. second time offenders lose Internet privileges for one week and, if the offender is a minor, the parent or guardian will be notified and given details of the offense third time offenders will lose Internet privileges permanently Illegal acts are also subject to prosecution by local, state or federal authorities. Illegal acts include providing access to, or exhibiting harmful or sexually explicit matter to minors. adopted: 1/21/97 revised: 10/19/99 revised: 4/18/00 revised: 5/17/95 revised: 9/20/11 revised: 6/19/12 revised: 6/17/14