The Internet is available for the informational and recreational needs of Cheatham's library patrons. In general, the Library will treat information on computers as confidential. Requests for disclosure of information regarding an individual's use will be honored only if approved by the director, by the owners of the information, or when required by local, state, or federal law. In compliance with federal guidelines for funding libraries, the Cheatham County Public Library has installed filtering on all it’s computers. However, the filters may be disabled upon request for adults ages 17 and up. Minors 16 and younger may not use a computer alone with a filter disabled. Filtering software is not foolproof. The library having installed filtering software will have no liability for damages related to the operation of, failure of, the filtering software, or for its circumvention by users. The Library does not monitor and has no control over the information accessed through the Internet and cannot be held responsible for its content. Information on the Internet may be reliable and current or it may be inaccurate, out of date, or unavailable. It may contain materials which some find offensive or inappropriate. As with all library resources, restriction of access to materials is the responsibility of the parents/guardians. Patrons 16 and under must have parent/guardian present and their permission when using an Internet workstation. The Library requests that parents/legal guardians monitor their children's Internet use.

USER GUIDELINES

1. Time limits will be 30 minutes unless special permission granted by staff. A household may not tie up more than one computer when others are waiting. Only one person may be at a computer station at a time except where adult supervision is required by policy or for adult learning purposes as directed by staff.

2. No chat rooms allowed.

3. Users may access e-mail via the web only. Users cannot check e-mail if they do not have an account on one of the web based services. Internet users are prohibited from using the library computers to compromise the safety and security of minors when using e- mail and/or other forms of direct electronic communications.

4. All Internet users are advised against disclosing personal information over the Internet to preserve their own personal safety. Library Internet users are prohibited by law from disclosing, using, or disseminating personal information regarding minors without written authorization of the parent or legal guardian of the minors involved. Minors will not give others private information about one's self or others or arrange a face-to-face meeting with someone they have met on the Internet without a parent or legal guardian's permission.

5. Users may use personal software only on specified computers, due to the necessity of controlling computer viruses. Downloading to the hard drive is prohibited. Diskettes used for downloading information must be obtained at the circulation desk. Donations may be made to the Friends group for disk.

6. The Cheatham County Library is not responsible for damage to a patron's disk or computer or for any loss of data, damage, or liability that may occur from patron use of the library computers.

7. Users may not damage any computer equipment, change configuration of software, or alter files. Engaging in any of the following activities is a violation of this policy: libeling or slandering of others; uploading a worm, virus, or other harmful form of programming or vandalism; participating in hacking activities or any form of unauthorized access to other computers, networks, or information’s systems.

8. Printing may be done. However, we request that you be reasonable in your number of pages printed. Donations may be made to the Friends group for printed pages.

9. Display of sexually explicit graphics is prohibited. In accordance with the TN Code Title 39, Chapter 17, Part 9 sending, receiving, or displaying text or graphics that may be reasonably construed as obscene by community standards are prohibited, regardless of age.

10. Display of profane, abusive, or threatening language is prohibited.

11. Unauthorized copying of copyright-protected materials is prohibited. The library expressly disclaims any responsibility resulting from copyright infringement by a library patron.

12. Violating any local, state, or federal statute is prohibited.

WHEN PATRONS USE THE COMPUTERS, PATRONS ARE CONSIDERED TO BE AUTOMATICALLY AGREEING TO ABIDE BY LIBRARY COMPUTER POLICIES AND USER GUIDELINES. VIOLATIONS OF THIS POLICY WILL RESULT IN LOSS OF ACCESS TO THE COMPUTERS/INTERNET.

Library staff do not provide technical instruction www.imls.gov/whatsnew/leg/cipa-decision.pdf=  US Supreme Court Decision on CIPA 

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