Internet Use Policy
The St. Johns County Public Library System offers full public access
to the Internet to fulfill a component of its Long Range Service Plan
to "Procure and provide information services and materials in
electronic media and other developing technologies as appropriate." (Long
Range Service Plan, Administrative Services, Goal C, Objective 4)
The St. Johns County Public Library System subscribes to the principles
of intellectual freedom expressed in the American Library Association's
Library Bill of Rights and to the right of every person, regardless of
age, to have access to all constitutionally protected materials unless
otherwise restricted by law.
However, the St. Johns County Public Library System also recognizes that
the Internet is for the most part an unregulated medium. While allowing
access to personally and professionally enriching information, it may
also enable access to materials that violate federal and state laws and
materials that some may find offensive, inaccurate, or incomplete. Users,
and especially minors, are encouraged to be good information consumers
by evaluating the integrity of the information accessed.
The St. Johns County Public Library System affirms the right and responsibility
of parents or designated guardians to determine and monitor their minor
child's use of library resources including the Internet. Parents or guardians
should personally oversee their minor child if they wish to restrict access
to Library materials or the Internet. Minors visiting the Library without
a parent or guardian will be considered by staff as responsible for their
decisions and behaviors.
(Parents or guardians may wish to review "Rules of Online Safety on the Internet" published by the National Center for Missing and
Exploited Children. The site addresses rules for the safety and security
of minors using the Internet to access web sites, e-mail, chat rooms,
and other forms of electronic communications. A copy may be obtained
by clicking on the highlighted link or by asking Library staff for a printed
copy. There is also an excellent web site for young persons and their
families, Kids Connect. This site
offers a variety of information about Internet sites that are useful for
guiding parents and children to the optimum use of the World Wide Web.
As with all other library services, staff are trained and available to
parents and children needing assistance or guidance in the safe use of
the Internet.)
The Internet is part of the Library's collection. On the Library's Internet
homepage [www.sjcpls.org], staff have identified specific starting points
for Internet searches that are appropriate to the Library's mission and
service roles. The criteria for web site selection can be found in the
Library's Materials Selection Policy that is available at each library
location. The Internet is vast and dynamic. Web sites change constantly
and their content is unpredictable. The reliability of web sites, even
those reviewed by staff, cannot be guaranteed and should be considered
with caution.
Library users, including minors, must comply with federal, state and
county laws, and library policies while using library materials and equipment.
These include, but are not limited to, laws and policies addressing privacy,
copyright, obscenity, child pornography, computer hacking, unauthorized
access to computers or networks, damage to computers or networks, and
installing or spreading computer virus programs. Persons, including minors,
violating any law or policy will be treated in accordance with the Library's
Code of Patron Conduct that may result in being asked to leave the library,
notifying law enforcement agencies, or any other action deemed appropriate.
Revised and enacted by the St. Johns County Library Advisory Board, June
12, 2002.