In support of its mission to provide materials, information, programs, and facilities, which improve the quality of life for all people in our community, the Texarkana Public Library provides access to computing and information resources including Internet access.  All Internet resources accessible through the Library are provided equally to all Library patrons.

The Internet provides a means to access information far beyond the Library’s own collections.  The Internet is a gateway to information of great diversity in many countries and cultures around the world.  In agreement with CIPA Regulations, all Library Public Access workstations use filtering software to access the Internet. Adults eighteen (18) or older, who need unfiltered access for any lawful purpose, may request it from a Staff member. Unfiltered access will be granted on a per-search basis.  

While most of the information accessed can be valuable and enlightening, the user may also find materials that are unreliable, personally offensive, or in conflict with U. S. law.   The Library has no control over information that can be accessed through the Internet and is not responsible for inadvertent exposure by minors or adults to potentially offensive material accessed by Internet users on Library equipment.  Library patrons are responsible for the information accessed by their children. The Library does not use filtering software.   Each individual user must take responsibility for his or her own activities on the Internet and for the activities of his or her children.  Parents or legal guardians are advised to supervise their children’s Internet sessions.
 
 
 

It is the Library’s policy, that parents or legal guardians must assume responsibility for deciding what Library resources are appropriate for their children.  There will be some resources which parents or legal guardians may feel are inappropriate for their children.  Parents or legal guardians should let their children know if there are materials which they do not want them to use.

Only parents or legal guardians may restrict Internet resources chosen by their children, beyond the restrictions set for all Library patrons.  Library Staff members are not responsible for controlling children’s use of the Internet.  Parents or legal guardians are strongly advised to provide guidance and to supervise their children’s use of the Internet. For more information on the Internet, see  Child Safety on the Information Highway  by Lawrence J Magid, published by the National Center For Missing And Exploited Children, Arlington, Virginia, 1994.  Parents or legal guardians are responsible for the use of these resources by their children and must be present when children under the age of twelve (12) are using the resources.

The Library’s Internet computers are in a public area and privacy is not guaranteed.  Only two (2) people will be allowed at the Internet Workstation at a time.
 
 
 

The Library Staff will be happy to assist patrons, but the Staff cannot provide in-depth personal training in the use of the Internet or of personal computers.  Responsibility for successful computing lies with the user.

The Library Staff will perform limited reference searches on the Internet at the request of telephone customers.  For more extensive research, patrons will be asked to come to the Library to do the search.
 
 
 

Use of the Internet resources carries with it a responsibility to evaluate the quality of the information accessed.

The Internet is a global entity with a highly diverse user population and information content.  Library patrons use it at their own risk.  The Library cannot censor access to materials or protect users from materials they may find offensive.  In choosing sources to link to our home page, we follow generally accepted library practices.  Beyond this, we do not monitor or control information accessible through the Internet and do not accept responsibility for its content.  We are not responsible for changes in content of the sources to which we link, nor for the content of sources accessed through secondary links.

As with printed information, not all sources on the Internet provide accurate, complete, or current information.  Users should evaluate Internet sources just as they do printed publications, questioning the validity of the information provided.

The Library will provide primary access to the Internet through the World Wide Web via a graphical browser.  Patrons will not be able to dial into the Library’s Internet computer from remote sites.  Printing is available for fifteen cents ($.15) per page.

Electronic information technology is a fluid environment, emerging, expanding, and changing constantly.  Access to the Internet does not constitute an endorsement of the diverse information nor the accuracy and authority of the content of the material on the Internet.  No liability will be assumed by the Library Staff or the Library Commission.  Texarkana Public Library encourages patrons to make use of this new technology.
 
 
 

The Library will provide Internet access for research purposes, but will not allow use of electronic mail (sending or receiving), Internet Relay Chat (IRC), Usenet Newsgroups, on-line shopping, or games.  Violation of these guidelines will result in immediate revocation of all computer privileges.

It is the responsibility of each user to:

• Respect the rights of others.
• Respect all contractual and license agreements.
• Respect the privacy of other Internet users.
• Abide by the legal protection provided by copyright and license to programs and data.
• Maintain the integrity of computing systems. (For example, users must not intentionally develop programs to harass other users or to infiltrate computers or computing systems, or develop programs that may damage or alter the software components of this or other computing systems.)

Use the software/browser for the purposes intended.

Examples of unacceptable use include, but are not limited to, the following:
 

• Damaging, tampering with, or destroying equipment, software or data belonging to the Library including adding, altering, or deleting files on Library’s workstation hard drives or other Library computer equipment.
• Violating computer system integrity, including attempts to bypass security functions, obtain passwords, or alter the configuration of Library workstation in any way.
• Installing or downloading any software.
• Using the Internet for any illegal activity.
• Using the Internet to harass others.
• Sending, receiving, or displaying text or graphics, which may be reasonably construed as obscene.
• Violating copyright or software licensing agreements.
• Using the Internet to defraud or obtain money or other valuables by false representation.
• Using the Internet for commercial purposes.
• Wastefully using finite resources (including printing without paying).

Use of the computer is on a first-come, first-served basis.  Patrons will check out Internet use for a half (½) hour time limit.  The user may recheck for additional use but agrees, as a condition of use, that they will make the computer available within fifteen (15) minutes of being informed by the Library Staff that another person is waiting.  Users are expected to keep track of their time and to terminate their sessions in a courteous and timely fashion.  Sessions will not be scheduled past fifteen (15) minutes before the closing time.

All patrons who wish to use the Library’s Internet must read and sign an “INTERNET ACCEPTABLE USE AGREEMENT”:

• For children ages twelve (12) and under the Library requires a parent’s or legal guardian’s permission, signature on the Library’s “INTERNET ACCEPTABLE USE AGREEMENT”, and an approved adult supervisor before using the Internet.
• For children ages thirteen (13) through sixteen (16) the Library requires a parent’s or legal guardian’s permission and signature on the Library’s “INTERNET ACCEPTABLE USE AGREEMENT” before using the Internet.
• Individuals age seventeen (17) and older are required to read and sign the “INTERNET ACCEPTABLE USE AGREEMENT” before using the Internet.

•  Users violating these policies will be advised of the Library's policies for use of the Internet and will be asked to comply.
• The Library reserves the right to terminate network connections for users who repeat a violation of these policies after a previous warning.
• The Library reserves the right to prohibit violators from future access to or use of the Library's online services, and to revoke all Library privileges.

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.

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.