Internet Policy
Florence County Library System
Approved by the Board of Trustees May 1, 2023
- Purpose
The purpose of the internet policy is to govern the library’s provision of internet access to all Florence County residents in accordance with the library’s mission and strategic plan.
- Internet Content and Filtering
2.1 The library is not responsible for the quality, accuracy, content, or timeliness of any information found on the internet. As with all library resources, parents and guardians are responsible for deciding which internet resources are appropriate for their children.
2.2 In compliance with the Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA) and applicable South Carolina state law, all library computers are equipped with filtering software to prevent the viewing of pornographic material. Internet users who bypass the web filtering software, or instruct other users in bypassing the web filtering software, will forfeit all future rights to use a computer in the library.
2.3 An adult patron (18 years or older) may request a temporary bypass of the web filter if a site needed for legitimate research is blocked. Library staff will determine if the site appears to be in accordance with the library’s Internet Use Policy. Any patron may request that a site be permanently blocked or unblocked. Library staff will review all such requests for compliance with the library’s Internet Policy.
- Guidelines for Acceptable Use
3.1 All users must agree to the Internet Policy before using the internet on a library computer.
3.2 Adults and children age 14 and above will use computers in the adult computer area. Children age 13 and below must have signed parental permission agreements and will use computers in the children’s area.
3.3 Users must have a Florence County library card and use only their own card to access computers and are responsible for all activity conducted under their account. The library may provide guest access at its discretion.
3.4 No more than two users may gather at any one computer workstation.
3.5 Users may not violate copyright laws or software licensing agreement. It is the user’s responsibility to be aware of copyrighted information online and to follow state and federal copyright laws.
3.6 Users may not attempt to alter, modify, or damage computer hardware or software, and may not attempt to gain unauthorized access to the library’s computer network or any other network.
3.7 All personally identifying patron information, including computer use, will be kept confidential by the library except upon court order.
3.8 Users will not engage in any activity that is disruptive to other library users or otherwise violates the library’s Code of Conduct.
3.9 Library staff may limit computer usage that would curtail access for other users, e.g. installing software exceeding hardware capabilities, very large print jobs exceeding printer capacity, use of personal paper incompatible with printer, etc.
- Violations
4.1 Any violation of this policy will result in the following penalties. The duration of each penalty may be changed at the library’s discretion. Each violation will include notes on the patron’s account and incident reports as appropriate:
- 1st violation: The patron will be given a verbal warning.
- 2nd violation: The patron may not use library computers for 1 month.
- 3rd violation: The patron may not use library computers for 6 months.
- 4th violation: The patron is banned indefinitely from using library computers, until the library director or his/her designee gives express permission for the ban to be removed.