Conditions for Public PC and Internet Use in Libraries
BLACKPOOL BOROUGH COUNCIL
POLICY AND CONDITIONS FOR PUBLIC INTERNET USE IN
LIBRARIES
Blackpool Borough Council, through its Library Service, provides access to a wide range of resources for library members, including those available from the Internet, in its role as a provider of information, educational, recreational and cultural enrichment opportunities for its users.
Blackpool Council provides free access to its Internet services under the following conditions:
· The Internet is a global electronic network and Blackpool Council is not responsible for the accuracy, validity, legality or usefulness of information available. Neither can the Council accept responsibility for problems such as slow network responses, communications failures, the non-availability of any web site, content of any e-mail received by users, non-receipt of e-mails, lost data, or for other users retrieving information left on open files.
· Access to Internet sites is filtered for all users. Access for children and young people under 16 years old is subject to the same restrictions as access in schools, at most times. However it is not possible to block all offensive sites and the responsibility for what children access remains with their parents/guardians at all times. Children under 8 years old should be accompanied by an adult. Library staff cannot be responsible for supervising access by children.
· Transmission or display of any material in violation of any laws is prohibited. This includes, but is not limited to :-
Copyrighted material, threatening or obscene material, pornographic material, material protected by trade secret or licence
Use of library facilities to attempt unauthorised access to other computer systems is also prohibited.
· The screen displays on all our public terminals are clearly visible to staff and other library users. Inappropriate content likely to cause offence in a public library setting must not be displayed
· Blackpool Library Service conforms to Health & Safety requirements in all aspects of its provision of public ICT facilities.
· The Council reserves the right to take action against anyone who intentionally, or by wilful neglect, damages the hardware and/or software which is covered by this policy.
· Alterations, additions or deletions to any of the programmes resident on the computer's internal hard disk or its network connections must not be made.
· Use of floppy disks, CD/DVD Rom Writers and USB devices to download authorised material only is permitted, but Blackpool Borough Council disclaims any liability in respect of computer virus transmission. We cannot accept any responsibility for errors or failures, however caused, when writing data to any media.
· Print outs of authorised material can be made but will be charged for at the current rate which is on display.
· All computer equipment must be used responsibly. Users must not open, tamper with or attempt to move any item of library equipment.
· Users may connect personal headphones, USB devices and flash memory cards to designated library PCs entirely at their own risk, but only via the equipment provided. It will be understood that by attempting to connect personal equipment, users have agreed to be entirely responsible for any damage this may cause to personal and/or library equipment.
· Staff will provide general support and initial guidance in using the Internet but cannot undertake detailed searches.
· Computers may be booked for one hour. If no one else is waiting sessions may be extended by half an hour at a time. A maximum of two hour-long sessions may be booked on any one day.
· Blackpool Library Service may in its absolute discretion refuse or terminate computer access.
· Blackpool Library Staff will not accept any liability for loss or damage to property, intellectual or otherwise, unless caused by its negligence, or the negligence of one of its employees.
· If a terminal loses contact with the management system library staff must be allowed to restart the computer session.
· If you would like to make any comments or suggestions regarding this policy or any other library PC issue please ask a member of staff for a customer comments form.
Obscene Pubns Act 1959 as amended
Telecommunications Act 1984
Copyright Design & Patents Act 1988
I understand that infringement of these terms and conditions will result in termination of my use of the service.