Acceptable Use of
Electronic Information Systems
[Created
April 16, 2003, Last Reviewed January 21, 2004]
108
The Library shall provide access to electronic information
systems (including computers, computer networks and electronic
information sources) to staff members and customers as is sufficient
in the fulfillment of its mission. Use of these systems shall
be consistent with the Library’s mission, goals, policies and
procedures, and with applicable local, state, federal and
international laws. The Library also expects that users of
these systems shall not interfere with systems operation, integrity
or security, or otherwise inhibit normal Library activities.
The Library is responsible for systems operations and integrity, and
may develop appropriate procedures to ensure systems efficiency,
reliability, and security, and legal and ethical system use.
The
Library’s electronic information systems must be used in compliance
with the Library’s Acceptable Use Policy, as set forth herein.
Additionally, the Library’s electronic information systems must be
used in compliance with the Library’s Guidelines for Using
Library Computers and Internet Safety Policy, which are
incorporated by reference and are attached hereto.
108.01
MANAGEMENT OF ELECTRONIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS
[Created April 16, 2003, Last Reviewed January 21, 2004]
The
Computer Systems Manager and the Director are responsible for all
aspects of electronic information systems development, management,
and maintenance. As part of this responsibility, they are
empowered to authorize access to system elements (including
computers and peripheral devices, network components, programs,
program elements, files, or data), to implement reasonable and
appropriate means to ensure systems reliability, integrity and
security, and to enforce related policies and procedures.
Attempts to violate or circumvent these policies and procedures will
result in disciplinary action, which may include temporary or
permanent loss of system access or civil or criminal legal action.
108.02
STATEMENT OF CONFIDENTIALITY
[Created April 16, 2003, Last Reviewed January 21, 2004]
Transaction logs, electronic mail and other information, which
could be used to identify users with specific materials or subject
matter, are considered by the Library to be confidential, and will
not be divulged to anyone other than the user or parents of minor
children. All users are advised that such records shall not be
made available to any agency of the federal, state or local
government except pursuant to such process, order or subpoena as may
be authorized under the authority of, and pursuant to, federal,
state or local law relating to criminal, civil, or administrative
discovery procedures or legislative investigatory power. The
Library resists the issuance or enforcement of any process, order or
subpoena until a proper showing of good cause has been made in a
court of competent jurisdiction.
108.03
SYSTEMS SECURITY
[Created April 16, 2003, Last Reviewed January 21, 2004]
1.
Users may not attempt to
add, modify, or remove any system element without explicit
authority to do so, or with the express permission of the Computer
Systems Manager.
2.
Users may not attempt to
assist unauthorized access to privileged or confidential system
elements.
3.
User passwords, or any
other information related to systems security may not be divulged,
shared, or otherwise compromised.
4.
Additions or modifications
to user access or privilege may not be made without the Computer
Systems Manager’s authorization (and, for Library staff, supervisory
consent).
5.
Use of Library systems to
evade security measures on any systems is prohibited.
108.04
SYSTEMS RELIABILITY
[Created April 16, 2003, Last Reviewed January 21, 2004]
1.
Users may not impede
systems use through the monopolization or unreasonable consumption
of system resources, or by any attempt to delay or halt system
operations.
2.
The Computer Systems
Manager or his/her explicitly authorized agent must perform system
maintenance, including software installations or upgrades. No
unauthorized software may be downloaded, installed or executed on
Library systems.
3.
Staff members may not
acquire system access, or authorization for the use of any
privileged system element, without appropriate training from the
Computer Systems Manager or his/her explicitly authorized agent.
108.05
LEGAL AND ETHICAL USE
[Created April 16, 2003, Last Reviewed January 21, 2004]
1.
Users may not attempt to access
security–related or otherwise confidential information without the
explicit authority to do so.
2.
Users may not employ Library systems to
falsely identify themselves, falsely represent themselves, the
Library or any of its policies, services or practices, or to
otherwise commit fraud.
3.
Users may not employ Library systems for
the purpose of libel, slander, or any form of harassment.
4.
Staff members may not systematically
employ system resources for the purpose of personal commercial gain.
5.
Electronic communications and
publications originating from the Library systems are considered
representative of the Library. Staff members are to adhere to
Library guidelines for public communications, as determined by the
appropriate Library personnel.
108.06
ELECTRONIC MATERIALS
[Created April 16, 2003, Last Reviewed January 21, 2004]
1.
U. S. copyright law (Title
17, U. S. Code) prohibits the unauthorized reproduction or
distribution of copyrighted materials, except as permitted by the
principles 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. Any responsibility for any consequences of copyright
infringement lies with the user; the Library expressly disclaims any
liability or responsibility resulting from such use.
2.
Electronic materials
(including electronic mail) produced by Library employees on Library
systems are considered works-for-hire and are the Library’s
intellectual property. However, the Library may not be held
responsible or liable for the use of its systems for unsanctioned
communications or publications, or any consequences thereof.
3.
The Library expressly
disclaims any liability or responsibility arising from access to or
use of information obtained through its electronic information
systems, or any consequences thereof.
4.
The Computer Systems
Manager shall hold and manage all passwords which shall be changed
periodically. No password protection shall be placed on any
computer owned by the Library without the knowledge and/or
permission of the Computer Systems Manager.
108.07
INTERNET AND E-MAIL POLICY
[Created April 16, 2003, Last Reviewed January 21, 2004]
The
Library’s e-mail system (the “e-mail system”) shall be used for
Library business purposes only. The e-mail system shall not be
used to send or receive messages of a personal nature unless
absolutely necessary. Further, sending or receiving personal
e-mails must not in any way interfere with the performance of your
duties. Under no circumstances may employees accept or open
attachment(s) to personal e-mails, given the risk of virus infection
to the network.
All
computers and the data stored upon them are and remain the property
of the Library and, as such, all e-mail messages composed, sent and
received are and remain the property of the Library. All staff
members waive any right to privacy in e-mail messages and the
Library reserves the right to retrieve, read and disclose any email
messages for any purposes. Improper and unprofessional
statements are unauthorized by the Library and may give rise to
personal liability.
E-mail
messages shall not contain content that may reasonably be considered
offensive or disruptive to any employee. Content that may
reasonably be considered to be offensive or disruptive includes, but
is not limited to: any abusive or defamatory comments; sexual
comments, materials and images; racial or ethnic jokes or slurs;
derogatory gender-specific materials and comments; religious texts
and messages; and/or any other materials and comments that may
offend the recipient on the basis of race, color, disability,
religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age (40 and
over), veteran’s status and/or other status protected by law;
offensive language; and displaying offensive pictures.
Further, use of the Library’s e-mail or Internet access for any
unlawful purpose is strictly prohibited.
The
Library’s computer system also provides employees with Internet
access which is intended for Library business purposes only.
The downloading of non-work related material during working hours is
strictly prohibited.
Employees
should never send strictly confidential messages or highly sensitive
information via e-mail or the Internet. Employees must
remember that email messages, however confidential or damaging, may
have to be disclosed in court proceedings or in investigations by
competent authorities or regulatory bodies.
Any breach
of this policy may result in disciplinary action, up to and
including immediate termination of employment.
[Created April 16, 2003, Last Reviewed August
18, 2004]
The Library is pleased to offer
computers and computer-based services as part of our mission to
provide materials that “educate, enrich, entertain, and inform” our
customers. To provide the best possible services and prevent
the abuse of these services, all customers must follow these
guidelines.
The numbers in parentheses refer
to the portion of the Library’s Acceptable Use of Electronic
Information Systems Policy from which the guideline is derived.
1. To
ensure access to as many users as possible, customers may not
monopolize computer resources. For this reason, the Library
may limit the amount of time a customer may use a workstation to one
hour or one-half hour for adults and one-half hour for persons under
eighteen years of age (108.04).
2. Customers
may not attempt to modify or damage computer hardware or software
(108.03).
3. Customers
may not use software other than that provided and installed by the
Library and must have diskettes checked before use (108.04).
4. The
Library does not monitor or control information accessible through
the Internet and is not responsible for:
a.
Content outside of Library pages,
changes in content of the sources to which the Library may link or
the content of sources accessed through secondary links (108.06).
b.
Consequences arising from information
obtained from the Internet or any other electronic source (108.06).
5.
Customers may not use
Library computers to commit any improper or illegal acts. Such
acts may include, but are not limited to:
a.
Forgery, fraud, libel, slander, invasion
of privacy or any form of harassment (108.05)
b. Unauthorized
access to any computer network (108.03).
c. Public
display of material from sites that may be deemed unlawful under
federal or state statutes (108).
6.
Customers are responsible
for any consequences of copyright infringement (108.06).
Violations of these policies
may result in loss of access to Library computer resources.
Unlawful activities will be dealt with in an appropriate manner
(108.01).
TOP
[Created April 16, 2003, Last
Reviewed August 18, 2004]
