Acceptable Internet Use

OPLIN and Internet Usage Policies

The Garnet A. Wilson Public Library of Pike County, Ohio, strives to develop collections, resources, and services that meet the cultural, informational, recreational, and educational needs of the residents of the area. It is within this context that the Garnet A. Wilson Public Library has agreed to participate in OPLIN, the Ohio Public Library Information Network, which allows access to the Internet.

The Internet, as an information resource, enables the library to provide information beyond the confines of its own collection. The Internet allows access to ideas, information, and commentary from all around the globe. It is, however, an unregulated medium; as such, while it offers access to a wealth of material that is personally, professionally, and culturally enriching to individuals of all ages, it also enables access to some materials which may be offensive, disturbing, and/or illegal.

The Garnet A. Wilson Public Library does not monitor and has no control over the information accessed through the Internet and cannot be held responsible for its content. The Internet is a global entity with a highly diverse user population, and as such, library patrons use it at their own discretion.

Through its home page, the Garnet A. Wilson Public Library will identify specific starting points for searches on OPLIN which are appropriate to the library's service goals.

Currently, the Garnet A. Wilson Public Library offers in-library access to the Internet through its OPLIN terminals at the main library and branches. The library upholds and affirms the right of each individual to have access to constitutionally protected materials.

The library also affirms the right and responsibility of parents to determine and monitor their children's use of library materials and resources. To comply with Ohio law regarding materials "harmful to juveniles", the library offers both filtered and unfiltered OPLIN/Internet stations. For minors age 12 and under a parent or legal guardian must be present when the child uses the OPLIN/Internet terminal. For youth age 13 to 17, the parent or legal guardian must present themselves to the circulation desk and sign the child's registration card, authorizing their child to use the OPLIN/Internet terminal unsupervised and/or use the unfiltered workstation.

Following are conditions and terms of OPLIN and Internet use in the library.

1. The library reserves the right to require all prospective users to attend an orientation session as a condition for access to the Internet through OPLIN. Orientation will include training in the use of software and hardware and guidelines for the responsible care of OPLIN and library equipment.

2. OPLIN/Internet users will be registered borrowers of the Garnet A. Wilson Public Library of Pike County and must present their card to the reference desk when using the workstation. Non-area residents must show photo identification to obtain a guest pass to use the OPLIN/Internet workstation.

3. All prospective users will agree to an OPLIN/Internet Use Contract.

4. Parent or legal guardian will be present with the youth when registering him/her for OPLIN/Internet use.

5. A filtered workstation is available upon request and must be used by patrons under the age of 18, unless the parent or legal guardian has given signed consent for the juvenile to use an unfiltered workstation.

6. Youth age 13 to 17 years are required to have signed permission from a parent or legal guardian for unsupervised access to OPLIN/Internet; without a signed permission form, these youth must have parent or legal guardian present.

7. Youth age 12 years and under are required to have a parent or legal guardian present to use the OPLIN/Internet workstation.

8. Use of the OPLIN/Internet workstation will be limited to scheduled times of 60 minutes each, with a three-hour time limit per day.

9. Not more than two registered OPLIN/Internet users may be present at the workstation at a time.

10. Times to use OPLIN/Internet may be scheduled, either in person or by telephone.

11. Information from OPLIN and/or the Internet may be printed, and copies are 10 cents per page for black and white copies; 50 cents per page for color copies.

12. No disks or privately held software programs may be used in the OPLIN/Internet workstation; therefore, no information may be downloaded from OPLIN or the Internet.

13. Certain sites on the Internet are sexually explicit and graphic in nature and not within the library's service goals. The OPLIN/Internet workstation is within the public area of the library, and therefore exposing other patrons, especially children, to these sites is expressly prohibited and will result in the loss of OPLIN/Internet use privileges.

14. Misuse of the OPLIN/Internet workstation or Internet access will result in loss of access privileges.

15. Patrons will be given one warning when in violation of the above rules. Library employees will document the date(s) and time(s) of the alleged violation of the OPLIN/Internet agreement and the web site URL accessed by the patron. At the second documented incident, the patron will forfeit his/her privileges to use the OPLIN/Internet stations. An appeal may be made in writing to the Director or designee for reconsideration of loss of privileges. The Director or designee will review the case and respond to the patron within three (3) business days.

16. Should the Director or designee rule in favor of the patron, his/her rights to use the OPLIN/Internet stations will be immediately restored. If the Director rules against the patron, he/she may then appeal to the Personnel Committee of the library's Board of Trustees, who shall have seven (7) business days in which to reply. The decision of the committee shall be considered final.

Adopted June 12, 2000