The Estes Valley Library (Library) supports the free flow of information and ideas. To connect patrons to resources beyond those contained in the Library’s collection, the Library provides Internet access on public computers and via a wireless network for patrons to use with their personal devices. The Library reserves the right to require a Library Account in good standing be established and maintained for computer and wifi use.
Accessing the Internet using any of the Library’s systems constitutes acceptance by the user that they have read and understood the terms as stated in this and all other Library policies that are specified below.
The Library assumes responsibility only for the information provided on its own website. The Library is not responsible for information that is provided from other online sources.
Acceptable Use
1. All users are responsible for obeying state and federal laws.
2. All users are responsible for respecting copyright laws, licensing agreements, and payment of fees for any fee-based service.
3. Users may not attempt unauthorized access to any computer system. Users may be asked by Library staff at any time to disconnect any personal device the staff member deems a threat to the operation of the computer, the network, the smooth operation of the computer area in general, or the security of the Library or its patrons. Failure to comply constitutes a breach of the Library’s Patron Behavior Policy.
4. The library network is not secure. Patrons must rely on the websites they visit to provide a secure, encrypted connection for transferring sensitive information when needed. Patrons should be cautious about transmitting sensitive information, including but not limited to personally identifiable information such as name or address, account information, credit card numbers, passwords, or social security numbers over the Library’s network.
5. Users viewing explicit images in the library will be required by staff to ensure that others cannot view the images. Refusal to do so, when requested by the library staff, constitutes a breach of the Library Patron Behavior Policy.
Loss of Privileges
Patrons who violate Acceptable Use guidelines and/or the Patron Behavior Policy may be banned from the use of the library network. A network ban may be undertaken without prior communication with the patron and may take the form of restricting a specific patron-owned device from the use of the library’s wireless network. Patrons banned from the use of the network may appeal the ban in writing to the library director. The library takes no responsibility for the loss of work or network time that results from a patron’s device being banned from network use.
Copyright Violation Fees
Patrons who engage in the illegal download of copyrighted materials (see #2, above) may be required to pay the library for any charges the library incurs due to said violation(s).
Patron Privacy
The same standards of intellectual freedom, privacy and confidentiality endorsed by the Library for traditional resources apply to electronic media, including Internet use. The Library follows state and federal Law regarding privacy of Library users’ records and information. The Library will not release information on the use of specific Internet resources by patrons except as required by law or as necessary for Library operation.
Indemnity
Each Library Internet service user agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Estes Valley Library, their suppliers and licensors, officers, directors, employees, agents and affiliates from any claim, liability, loss, damage, cost, or expense (including without limitation reasonable attorney’s fees) arising out of or related to the user’s use of the Library Internet services, any materials downloaded or uploaded intentionally or unintentionally through the service, any actions taken by the user in connection with their use of the service, any violation of any third party’s rights or any violation of law or regulation, or any breach of this agreement. This Section will not be construed to limit or exclude any other claims or remedies that may be asserted under this Agreement or by law.
Library staff cannot provide technical assistance for patrons’ devices; however, the staff can provide general information for connecting a personal device to the Library wireless network. The Library does not guarantee that a patron’s personal device will work with the Library’s wireless access.
Filtering
In accordance with Colorado Revised Statutes (CRS) 24-90-601 thru 24-90-606, the Library has implemented filters on all Library terminals that provide public access to the Internet.
Internet filters are software programs that seek to block access to potentially offensive images and text. This software diminishes the likelihood that Internet searchers will inadvertently retrieve text or images that they may find offensive; but this software may also block access to sites that users would consider both useful and inoffensive.
Adults 17 years of age or older can request a Library staff member to temporarily disable the filter.
Minors supervised by a parent may also have the filter temporarily disabled. Picture identification may be required by the staff member in order to verify the requestor’s age. The Library makes available a designated Youth Computer Room containing literacy-based software programs. These computers provide no Internet access.
The filtering software used at the Library has different settings and options that can be selected to block access to a wide variety of Internet sites. The Library Board of Trustees designates authority to the Library Director as the final decision maker with regard to which filtering software settings and options are activated in order to comply with this policy and the above referenced CRS.
Firewall
The library’s public computers are behind a firewall that blocks malicious content such as viruses and spyware. The Library’s block on malicious content cannot be bypassed for patrons.
—————————————
Please refer to the Confidentiality of Library Records, and Patron Behavior Policies for more information.
The Estes Valley Library Internet Policy was formerly the Internet Use and the Internet Filtering policies, adopted and approved by the Estes Valley Public Library District Board of Trustees in 1997, 2004, 2006, 2010, 2013 and 2016.
They were combined into one policy and approved on June 15, 2020.
John Krueger, President Bill Gerritz, Secretary