Computer and Internet Use – Staff Policy

Library Board approved July 16, 2002.

Library staff is afforded access to email, Internet access, and other network resources as needed to perform the duties associated with their positions.  While incidental use of these resources is permitted for personal uses, no use of Library email, Internet access and other network resources that is contrary to law or deemed unacceptable uses of telecommunication technologies as listed below is permitted and any such use is subject to discipline.

Unacceptable uses of telecommunications technologies include:

  1. Violating the rights to privacy of any patron or employee;

Transmitting profanity or obscenity on any email account, website, newsgroup, mailing list, or similar forum;

Transmitting graphics (including still or moving pictures) or sound files which are pornographic, obscene, or offensive to another user, or transmission of such files to any forum where the graphics or sound files are accessible by others;

Downloading, storing, or printing files or messages (text, sound, still or moving graphics, or any combination thereof) that are pornographic or obscene or that use language, sounds, or imagery which offends or tends to degrade others (the administration invokes its discretionary rights to determine suitability in particular circumstances);

Harassment by computer, which includes transmitting any material which is threatening to another person, with the intent to coerce, intimidate, or harass any person to communicate obscene, vulgar, profane, lewd, lascivious, or indecent language, or make any suggestion or proposal of an obscene nature, or threaten any illegal or immoral act, whether or not such material is transmitted to that third person;

Copying proprietary information, including software, in violation of applicable law;

Using the network for personal financial gain, business activity not on behalf of the Oak Park Public Library, or any illegal activity;

Knowingly or negligently transmitting computer viruses;

Deliberately trying to degrade or disrupt system performance (such acts will also be viewed as criminal activity under applicable state or federal law);

Re-posting personal communications without the author’s prior consent;

Transmitting product advertisement or political lobbying;

Personal use not related to Library purposes of sufficient frequency or scale as to reasonably be deemed beyond incidental; and

Fundraising for other than Oak Park Public Library or funds held by the Oak Park-River Forest Community Foundation for the benefit of the Oak Park Public Library.

The Library reserves the right to inspect or monitor all staff use of email, Internet access and other network resources.  Staff use of said resources does not carry any expectation of confidentiality.

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