The Horsham Township Library provides access to the internet as a means to enhance the information and learning opportunities for the citizens of the library's service area. The library has established the Internet Acceptable Use Policy to ensure that use of this resource is appropriate, effective and in conformance with state and Federal regulations.

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Access to the internet is available to all patrons; however, this service may be restricted at any time for use not consistent with the guidelines. Parents of minor children must assume responsibility for their children's use of the library's internet service. Prior to being granted access to the internet, all patrons must agree to abide by the Internet Acceptable Use Policy. Users who decline to accept this policy will be restricted to using only the software installed on the local computer workstation (including Microsoft Office Pro and Adobe Photoshop) and will not be permitted to access the internet.

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Library users may log-on to any of the library's computer workstations using the 14-digit barcode number of their library card and PIN established at the time they registered for their card. Users who do not remember their PIN number should visit the library circulation desk so that a new PIN can be set up for them. Library users can change their own PIN at any time on the library website by following the "My Account" link. Visitors who live outside the community who wish to use library internet computers may visit the Circulation or Reference Desks for a guest pass.

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Expectations:

Users should be aware that the inappropriate use of electronic information resources can be a violation of local, state, and federal laws and can lead to prosecution. The user will be held responsible for their actions using the internet. Users are expected to abide by the policies below which include generally accepted rules of network etiquette. Unacceptable uses of the service will result in the suspension or revocation of internet use privileges.

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Warnings:

The internet is a decentralized, un-moderated global network. The Horsham Township Library has no control over the content found on the internet. The library's internet access is subject to a software filter that blocks images of unlawful obscenity or images of content harmful to minors; however, this software filter may not fully block access to objectionable material nor protect users from offensive information. Furthermore, the library is not responsible for the availability and accuracy of information found on the internet. Users should evaluate any information they find critically.

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The library cannot assure that data or files downloaded by users are virus-free. The library is not responsible for damages to equipment or data on a user's personal computer from the use of data downloaded from the library's internet service.

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The use of the internet and email is not guaranteed to be private. Messages relating to or in support of illegal activities will be reported to the proper authorities.

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Guidelines:

Users may use the Internet for research and the acquisition of information to address their educational, vocational, cultural, and recreational needs.

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Users may use the internet for the receipt and transmission of email as long as they use an email service which will establish and maintain an account for them; the library will not manage email accounts for any organizations or individuals.

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Computer & internet use is offered in forty-five (45) minute sessions on a first-come, first-served basis. Each user is allowed one session. If there is no patron waiting for the service at the end of a session, the user can continue their session, but once having had the service for 30 minutes the user must abandon use of the internet if another patron requests use of the service.

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Users will respect and uphold copyright laws and all other applicable laws and regulations; they will not use library internet resources for illegal purposes.

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Users will respect the rights and privacy of others by not accessing private files.

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Users agree not to incur any costs for the library through their use of the internet service.

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Users shall not create and/or distribute computer viruses or destructive computer code over the internet.

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Users shall not deliberately or willfully cause damage to computer equipment, programs, or parameters.

Users will abide by the Internet Acceptable Use Policy of the library’s internet service provider.

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Consistent with the requirements of the Children's Internet Protection Act (CIPA) and the Neighborhood Internet Protection Act (NCIPA) of December 15, 2000, the library's internet access is subject to a technology protection measure that blocks unlawful images (child pornography and obscenity) and images harmful to minors. The default log on to the internet at the Horsham Township Library is in the filtered mode. The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that adults have the right to request the use of library computers unfiltered. Adults should direct such requests to library staff. Adults are advised that viewing any image depicting child pornography or obscenity is against the law for individuals of any age. Adults who deliberately view these images will be denied the use of library internet public access computers.