Monday, August 06, 2007

Internet Computer use guidelines

Just some reminders about using our public access internet computers at the library:

1) All users need to sign a 'computer use' policy agreement form at the front desk if you haven't done so already. Parents will need to sign the permission side of the form if the patron is under the age of 18. No one will be permitted to use the internet computers without these documents on file. These forms must be filled out at each of the branches.

2)Please sign in BEFORE using the computer. The sign in sheets are at the front desk. There is a separate sign-in sheet for the eight Family/Children's computers in the Children's section. If you do not sign in or sign in for the wrong computer, you may be asked to give up your computer until another computer is free.

3) Do NOT download ANYTHING to the Library computers. This includes games such as "Diner Dash" and tool-bars such as 'mywebsearch'. How do you know? If you cannot play the game from the screen and/or the message "do you want to install" or "Do you want to download" this game/program is displayed, PLEASE DO NOT CONTINUE and click "NO" or "Cancel". Even the most innocent looking program can carry a virus that can infect the entire Library computer system.

If we find these programs on the Library computers, they will be deleted.

4) Due to Federal Government laws, our computers have blocks or filters on them. Patrons 18 years of age and older with proper ID showing their birthdate may request the block to be removed. However, patrons under the age of 18 may not make this request. We apologize for the inconvenience. Patrons bypassing the blocking program will be asked to close out their programs and must leave the computer area.

5) Please remember that you are not the only patron in the computer area. The Library staff may ask you to restrict cell phone use or to keep the noise level down in the area. Repeated requesets may result in loss of computer room priveleges for the day.

6) Due to space limitations, only the person signed in for a computer may use that computer. Please do not have friends, family, strollers, etc. with you in the computer room. Please try to understand that if you are using an additional chair that belongs with another computer, we may ask you to put the chair back where it belongs because someone has signed up for that computer.

Related to this, we have eight computers in the Children's area with games that do not require internet connection. Parents are welcome to sign up for these computers so that they can be with their children to make Library time Family Time. If you are an adult using these computers without having your children with you, we may ask you to give up the remainer of your time on these computers so children may have their turn. The computers in the computer room do NOT have these games on them.

7) as with all other areas of the library, food and drink (yes, even water!) are not permitted in the computer area.

We hope that these guidelines will make for a pleasant experience for you and others in our library's computer areas.