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GENERAL INFORMATION

Governance and Policies


Library Policies


INTERNET ACCEPTABLE USE POLICY

The use of any Internet workstation in the Ipswich Public Library constitutes an acceptance of its Internet Acceptable Use Policy. Patrons reaffirm this agreement each time they access the Internet in the Library.

 

I. Internet Access

In conjunction with its mission to provide a gateway to the arena of ideas, the Ipswich Public Library offers the privilege of Internet access including the World Wide Web. This privilege, however, carries with it personal responsibilities. The person accessing the Internet is liable for any infringement of the US and International Copyright Laws. As a largely unregulated electronic domain, neither the Library Staff nor the Trustees have control over the information accessed in the Internet; as such, the Library cannot be held responsible for its content.

While the Internet provides a vast array of information disseminated by governments, business sectors, educational institutions, non‐profit organizations, and individuals around the globe, be aware that the Internet may contain controversial information, sexually explicit and/or pornographic materials, inaccurate/incomplete data as well as activities considered illegal by local, state, and the federal government of the United States of America. Internet users must exercise good judgment and discretion in their use of it. For privacy and security reasons, Internet users are discouraged from providing personal information via the public access computers.

Parents or legal guardians of children and teenagers (up to age 18) should provide parental guidance for their children about cruising the Internet, including the World Wide Web. It is also the responsibility of parents or guardians to advise their children concerning the danger of providing names, addresses and telephone numbers to strangers through chat rooms and e‐mails. Children aged 12 and younger should use the Internet workstations located in the Children’s Room. The Internet workstations in the Children’s Room are equipped with filtering software to restrict access to web sites that may be unsafe or inappropriate for children.

II. Procedures for Use of Internet Workstations

  1. Users must note their starting time on a paper slip which should be displayed next to the PC.
  2. Internet access is limited to two 30‐minute periods per day with at least a thirty‐minute break between the two periods.
  3. If no one is waiting, the patron may use an Internet workstation consecutively for a total of one hour per day or longer at the discretion of library staff.
  4. Up to two people are allowed to use a workstation at a given time; thus, they are to be counted as one individual with the same time limit.
  5. The staff is authorized to ask users to relinquish their Internet access if they exceed the specified time limit.

III. Printing and Capturing Information from the Internet

  1. Information from the Internet can be printed from the workstation for a fee. Please ask for assistance at the Reference Desk for any computer and/or printer problem.
  2. The Library does not issue any personal e‐mail accounts, and file transfer protocol (ftp) is unavailable. However, users may forward a document to their own e‐mail account at home or in their office.
  3. To ensure privacy and security of personal information, patrons should bring their own removable storage device such as USB drives or a CD_RW to save documents from the public computers in the library.

IV. Restrictions on Internet Access

In addition to the Ipswich Public Library Rules of Conduct, patrons who access the Internet in the Library are not permitted to:

  1. Use Internet computers in the Ipswich Public Library for illegal purposes.
  2. Use Internet computers in the Ipswich Public Library for hacking.
  3. View pornographic materials and other graphic images considered obscene in a public setting.
  4. Vandalize computers including installation of software programs and modification of settings that are currently in place.
  5. Store personal files on the library’s computers.
  6. Transmit threats or harass anyone.

The Library staff is authorized to take proper actions to enforce all restrictions stated herein. Internet users who violate the Ipswich Public Library’s Internet Acceptable Use Policy will be punished to the full extent of the law.

V. Internet Training

The Reference Librarian provides Internet training by appointment. Our Children’s Room staff also offers guidance to parents and the children in using the Internet with emphasis on safety and security on the Web.

Note: This document is available in large print format.

Original policy approved by the Ipswich Public Library Board of Trustees on November 1997.

Revised and approved by the Ipswich Public Library Board of Trustees on March 1999; November 2002; April 2003; January 2006; October 2010
 

HOLIDAY CLOSINGS

 

The Library will be closed on these days in observance of Memorial Day:

 

  • Sunday, May 27th
  • Monday, May 28th 

 

 

 

 




LIBRARY HOURS

Monday9-8
Tuesday9-8
Wednesday9-8
Thursday9-5
Friday9-5
Saturday9-4
Sunday1-4
Summer: closed Sat & Sun

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25 North Main Street
Ipswich, MA 01938-2287

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Ipswich Public Library  .  25 North Main Street  .  Ipswich, MA 01938  .  978.356.6648  .  Fax 978.356.6647  .  ipswich@mvlc.org

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