Policies

Adopted 4/3/06

Revised 6/5/06, 2/5/07

The Sullivan County Library is available to all persons. While everyone has an equal right to access library services and facilities, no person has the right to interfere with the ability of others to use and enjoy library resources, services, and facilities. The library cannot tolerate poor public conduct.  The purpose of this policy is to ensure a safe, orderly, and comfortable atmosphere in which all library patrons can use the library’s materials and services most effectively.

OBJECTIONABLE BEHAVIORS

  • Being under the influence of alcohol or illegal drugs
  • Defacing or otherwise damaging library property
  • Smoking, chewing and other tobacco use
  • Eating and/or drinking, except in designated areas at selected locations
  • Lying down or sleeping on any floor, table, or seat in the library
  • Soliciting or conducting surveys not authorized by the library
  • Making loud noise
  • Running, pushing, shoving, or throwing objects
  • Using restrooms for bathing or shampooing, doing laundry, or changing clothes
  • Using cell phones and pagers in a manner that disturbs other visitors. Cell phone and pager audible ringers must be turned off.
  • Entering the library barefooted, without a shirt, with offensive body odor or personal hygiene so as to be disruptive to the library environment.
  • Bringing pets into the library, other than service animals for the handicapped
  • Illegal activities, including the use of the library’s electronic resources for illegal or criminal purposes
  • Viewing or downloading any explicit sexual material in violation of Title 18 PA Crime Code – Sect. 5903

Library staff will intervene to stop prohibited activities and behaviors.

Depending on the severity of the offense, the Library will institute discipline ranging from a verbal warning, through denial of specific privileges to finally a denial of the right to use the Library for a specified time period.  Any patron, whose privileges have been denied, may have the decision reviewed by the Board of Trustees. The patron must put his/her request for Board review in writing. Each offense will be treated on an individual basis.

The Sullivan County Library is now offering free Public Internet Access
for persons with wireless-enabled portable computers or personal digital
assistants (PDAs) This service allows users to quickly and easily
connect and access the library online resources, databases and the
Internet.

We have tried to make our wireless access as available as possible but
you may encounter some “dead” spots in the library where wireless
reception may be limited. If you are experiencing difficulty in
accessing the Internet or staying online, you may have to change to a
different location within the library.

To use this free service, users must sign the Library’s Internet Use
Agreement. This policy states the limitations of internet access, and
your responsibilities for using that access. Users must be at least 18
years of age to use the wireless service.

The Sullivan County Library’s wireless network is unfiltered and not
secure. The safety or security of your equipment when connected to the
library’s wireless network is not guaranteed. We strongly recommend that
you employ your own anti-virus measures and a personal firewall for the
security of your equipment. Information sent to and from your
notebook/laptop computer or any other wireless device may be captured by
anyone else with a wireless device and the appropriate software.

Library staff is not able to provide technical assistance and no
guarantee can be made that you will be able to make a wireless
connection.

Printing access is not available via the wireless connection. If you
need to print, please save your work to a floppy disk or email files to
yourself, then login to a wired library workstation and send jobs to the
public printer.

The Sullivan County Library assumes no responsibility for the safety of
equipment or for notebook/laptop computer or other wireless device
configurations, security, or data files resulting from connection to the
library’s wireless access.

The library disclaims all liability for loss of confidential information
or damages resulting from that loss.

Access to the Service

The Wireless Service is a free public service provided by the Sullivan
County Library. Your access to this Service is completely at the
discretion of the Sullivan County Library and your access to the Service
may be blocked, suspended, or terminated at any time for any reason
including, but not limited to, violation of the Internet Acceptable Use
Agreement, actions that may lead to liability for the Sullivan County
Library or the citizens of Sullivan County, disruption of access to
other users or networks, and violation of applicable laws or
regulations.

These settings are for those laptops that do not connect automatically:
1. User should record any original settings used at home or at the
workplace so
these settings can be changed back after using the wireless system at
the library.

2. In TCP/IP properties, select “Obtain and IP address automatically”

3. In the wireless card setting:
Select 802.11b, 802.11g or 802.11n, then select Channel 6.

The Sullivan County Library provides free information for the residents
of Sullivan County and the surrounding area. In support of this mission
and in response to advances in technology, the Sullivan County Library
makes the Internet available to the community.

The primary purpose of the library’s Internet access is to pursue
educational, business and career research.

All users must read and sign the Internet Acceptable Use Agreement.
Parental consent (a parent or guardian’s signature on the form) or the
presence of a parent or teacher is required for users age 12 through 18.
Users under the age of 12 are required to have the direct physical
presence of a parent or guardian who has signed the acceptable use
agreement.

The Internet is an unregulated medium. Not all sources on the Internet
provide information that is current, accurate or complete. The Library
is unable to control or monitor the content or presentation of materials
on the Internet, which can change quickly and without warning.

All Internet users are expected to use these resources in a responsible
manner, consistent with the educational and informational purposes for
which they are provided and to follow the rules and regulations posted
at each of the library’s Internet workstations.

The Federal Children’s Protection Act requires all libraries
receiving federal funding to comply by filtering all internet access
computers. Software is in place as required but library staff may
disable or override the filter for any persons 18 and older upon
request.

1. The Sullivan County Library offers Internet Access for the public. Parental consent or the presence of a parent or teacher is required for users under the age of 18. Users under the age of 12 are required to have the direct physical presence of a parent or guardian who has signed the acceptable use agreement.

2. The library cannot provide computer training for the public but does
provide handouts highlighting basic Internet search techniques.

3. User recognizes that the primary purpose of on-line usage is to
further educational and business pursuits. Games are allowed if no user is waiting for a computer.
4. User recognizes that accessing material that is disturbing to other
patrons through the library Internet connection constitutes unacceptable
use.

5. User recognizes chat room access is not part of the public access
program. Users will not be able to exchange messages with others
on-line.

6. It is a felony offense in the state of Pennsylvania “to display or
cause to display any explicit sexual material…on any…viewing screen in
such manner that the display is visible…in any establishment where
minors, as part of the general public, may be exposed to view all or any
part of such materials.” (Title 18 PA Crime Code – Sect. 5903)
Therefore, viewing of such materials in the library will not be
permitted. Violation of this provision may result in the immediate
termination of internet privileges.

7. User’s access to and use of the system may be terminated for any
perceived or suspected abuse of the above provisions.

8. The Federal Children’s Protection Act requires all libraries
receiving federal funding to comply by filtering all internet access
computers. Software is in place as required but library staff may
disable or override the filter for any persons 18 and older upon
request.