As a part of its Mission Statement, Great River Regional Library states its commitment to meeting library-related educational, informational, cultural, and recreational needs of citizens in central Minnesota. Through advances in technology, many of the library resources that residents require have been made available through automated, electronic networks. Both the library and the public rightly sees these resources as important supplements to the print and audiovisual resources in the library’s collections.
In its Materials Selection Policies, GRRL affirms its responsibility to create a broad and diversified collection of materials that covers topics of interest to the public. To meet this responsibility, GRRL collects a wide range of materials. This is true despite the fact that some may find individual items controversial or objectionable. Electronic access to data has the ability to significantly expand resources available to the public for meeting legitimate inquiries, though that expanded access does not come without some concerns.
The Internet is not a single system, but a network of literally thousands of public and private computers all over the world. While the library can choose to be connected to this network for all the benefits it offers, it cannot guarantee the tastefulness, accuracy or decency of all computer users or computer files on the network. The information available and sources of information are constantly changing and expanding, frequently rendering attempts at regulation, particularly at a national or local level, ineffective.
GRRL cannot censor a patron’s access to materials available over the Internet nor fully protect a patron from encountering images or ideas that may be considered controversial or inappropriate. Not all sources on the Internet provide accurate, complete or current information. Users need to analyze information on the Internet with the same scrutiny they apply to other sources of information.
GRRL will see workstations designated for use by children are equipped with references to Internet sites and selected software designed to meet the special needs and interests of children. Given the nature of the Internet as described above, however, GRRL recommends that parents, guardians and caregivers work closely with children in selecting Internet resources consistent with personal and family values. Since these values may vary significantly from individual to individual and family to family, any restriction on usage by children must be initiated by the parents, guardian or caregiver. The library, however, reserves the right to restrict access based upon an individual's violation(s) of the Acceptable Use Policy. Parents, guardians or caregivers, once they have decided to restrict children in their care from access to the Internet, should communicate that decision to the child.
Use of the Internet at GRRL
You must check with library staff before using an Internet station.
By using a GRRL Internet station, you indicate that you have read and agreed to abide by the GRRL Acceptable Use Policy and GRRL Statement on Internet Services. Parents, guardians and caregivers have the responsibility to guide their children/charges in their use of the Internet. Parents, guardians and caregivers are encouraged to read Child Safety on the Information Highway.
Library customers may reserve an Internet station for one time block per day.
Customers may reserve an Internet station in person or by calling their local GRRL library during open hours.
Internet stations may be reserved for one time period during the current day on a first-requested, first-served basis. Some Internet stations may be reserved up to three days in advance.
All reservations start on the hour or half hour . A station reserved for an hour block of time will be held for a customer for up to 10 minutes after the hour. A station reserved for a half hour block of time will be held for a customer no longer than 5 minutes after the hour. At that time, the station will be available for use by another customer.
If customers use an Internet station without first checking with staff, the station they are using may be given to another customer.
Please be prepared to vacate Internet stations when your scheduled time is up. All printing or copying to disk must be completed by the end of your scheduled time.
You must provide your own IBM-formatted, 1.44 3.5" disks for downloading documents of information. The library sells floppy disks for $1.00. The library is not responsible for damage to personal disks used on an Internet stations.
No files may be placed on the Internet station hard disk drive. Library files must not be altered.
The library does not provide direct access to news groups, or fee-based Internet services. Web-based versions of these services provided by other organizations may be accessed on library Internet stations.
You may print information from the Internet on workstation computers. The cost is $0.10 per page.
Internet stations may be unavailable for regular patron use during library-sponsored activities such as tours and class visits.
Misuse of computers or Internet access will result in computer privileges being revoked.
Peripheral equipment may not be attached to the GRRL Internet stations or plugged into power strips for the Internet stations.
