I. Purpose of Computers and Gaming Equipment
II. Age Guidelines
III. Appropriate Behaviors Guidelines
IV. Appropriate Use Guidelines for Computer Workstations
V. Appropriate Use Guidelines for Gaming Equipment
VI. Time Limit Guidelines
VII. Staff Assistance Guidelines
VIII. General Procedures
IX. Violations of Policy

I. Purpose of Computers and Gaming Equipment:

A. The library's primary purpose in providing computers is to promote access to the on-line catalog, LINKcat.

B. Secondarily, access to computers provides an opportunity for computer literacy for library customers of all ages.

C. Thirdly, computers may be used for accessing the internet, e-mail, writing reports and resumes, or a myriad of other projects, school-work-hobby-or employment-related.

D. Fourthly, computers and/or gaming equipment function as a form of entertainment; the library provides numerous gaming computers and gaming equipment, either loaded with gaming software or with access to game sites via the Internet.

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II. Age Guidelines:

A. Children six (6) years of age or younger must be accompanied by a parent or guardian or by an older sibling or friend (11 years or older) when using a library computer. The list of computers or gaming equipment available to children six (6) years of age or younger includes: the PlayStation unit in Children's Room; LINKcat computers; gaming computers in the Intermediate Area; and workstations in the Computer Lab.

B. Children under the age of 13 may not use the Teen gaming equipment.

C. Youth under the age of 18 must have permission from a parent or guardian to use the computers with Internet access. (This permission is retained on the child's library card record.) Please refer to the library's Internet Use Policy for more information.

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III. Appropriate Behaviors Guidelines:

A. Food and drinks are not allowed near any of the library computers or gaming equipment.

B. Youth under the age of 18 must present library card to the reference librarian prior to entering the computer lab. (Internet authorization is recorded on the library card.) Entering lab without presenting the required library card may result in removal from the computer lab for a length of time deemed appropriate by reference librarian.

C. Be considerate of other library customers who desire a quiet environment. If an individual or group of computer users or gamers creates a disturbance (talking in a voice beyond a whisper, talking in an exceptionally loud whisper, etc.) that limits the effective use of the computer lab or the library in general, they will be asked to correct their behavior, disband, and/or leave the building as deemed appropriate by the reference librarian.

D. When granted permission, by the reference librarian on duty, two people may use a single computer. (This exception may be granted for homework related projects or projects that involve a parent and child, etc.)

E. Congregating around a terminal to watch others engaged either in gaming or chatting will be discouraged and may result in removal from the computer lab.

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IV. Appropriate Use Guidelines for Computer Workstations:

A. Youth under the age of 18 must present library card to the reference librarian prior to entering the computer lab. (Internet authorization is recorded on the library card.) Entering lab without presenting the required library card may result in removal from the computer lab for a length of time deemed appropriate by reference librarian.

B. The library's computer workstations are for legal purposes only.

C. Customers are expected to follow the library's Internet Use Policy. According to the Wisconsin State Statutes (Sec. 948.11) the viewing of child pornography is a crime. Customers found viewing such Internet sites will be reported to the police.

D. According to the Wisconsin State Statues (Sec. 948.11), customers using the Internet (workstations in the computer lab) may not expose children to harmful materials and makes it a crime to expose children to pictures or images of nudity, sexually explicit conduct, or physical torture or brutality that appeal to prurient, shameful, or morbid interests and are patently offensive to prevailing adult standards regarding materials suitable for children. Customers who ignore or abuse the tenets of this policy will have their computer use privileges revoked.

E. Copying of copyrighted and license-protected software is prohibited.

F. The library will not support illegal downloading of music and will not provide access to peer-to-peer file sharing services (like kazaa). Customers may choose to subscribe to a music service and pay for the cost of said service; however, the library's computers may or may not be able to support the necessary plug-ins.

G. Access to a computer's operating system is not provided due to the need for security. Customers may not install personal software programs. Customers may be denied use of the computer if abuse is observed. A customer may be required to pay for repairs as a result of damages.

H. Unauthorized access to the Internet via the library's Internet connection in the computer lab or through any other port in the building is considered 'rouge computer use'. Customers found to be connecting to the Internet in such a manner will be asked to disconnect and will be issued a warning. Any further such activity will require further disciplinary action.

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V. Appropriate Use Guidelines for Gaming Equipment:

A. The library provides several software options for its gaming equipment.

B. All youth must sign-up to use the gaming equipment and check out gaming equipment at the circulation desk.

C. Youth may play games they personally own on the library's gaming equipment; however, the games must be rated E (everyone) or T (teen). M (mature) is not allowed.

D. The youth must present the games they bring into the library to the circulation staff for review. The circulation staff will alert the Reference staff to the presence of a privately owned game in play in the Teen Area. Circulation staff reserves the right to hold on to a particular title that does not meet the library's criteria until the teen is ready to leave the building at which time the game will be returned.

E. Reference librarians reserve the right to deny the use of any game brought into the library and played on the library's gaming equipment. The restriction or denial of any particular game may vary from librarian to librarian depending on the issues or circumstances they deem valid for denying use of a particular game.

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VI. Time Limit Guidelines:

A. The library staff (reference librarians or staff in charge) reserves the right to limit computer or gaming equipment use for customers who exceed more than three (3) hours of computer or gaming use in a single day.

B. The library staff also reserves the right to limit the length of time an individual uses the multimedia computer if they are being used for MSN chat and/or gaming related activities, especially if another customer requests the multimedia computers for work of serious nature: resumes, genealogy, scanning family photos, writing reports, homework projects, etc.

C. Computer Lab
The following time limits may be extended if no one else is waiting:
- 1 hour sessions for gaming
- ½ or 1 hour sessions for e-mail, resumes and school or work related projects, etc.
- 2 hour limit on multimedia PC's (see above caveats)

D. Intermediate Game Computers
- ½ hour sessions unless no one else is waiting and gaming may continue.

E. Teen PlayStation Units
- 1 hour unless no one else is waiting and gaming may continue.

F. Children's PlayStation Unit
- ½ hour session unless no one else is waiting and gaming may continue.

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VII. Staff Assistance Guidelines:

A. Cursory assistance related to the use of software programs will be available as staff time permits.

B. Intensive assistance or training related to the use of software programs is not available from the library staff (unless offered through a formal class).

C. Tutorials for each word processing program are included in the software packages and resource guides are available in the computer lab; numerous 'how-to' manuals are available for check out.

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VIII. General Procedures:

A. Customers wishing to use the computers in the Computer Lab must sign up at the Reference Desk.

B. Customers wishing to use the game computers in the Intermediate Area or the Teen Playstation Units must sign up at the Circulation Desk.

C. The computers and gaming equipment are available on a first-come-first-served basis, except for the multimedia PC's for which reservations are accepted via the Reference staff.

D. Black and white copies are 10 cents each. Color copies are 25 cents each. Customers are paying for the cost of the ink cartridges. Even if a customer brings in his or her own paper, i.e. resume paper, copies remain 10 cents each for black and while and 25 cents for color copies.

E. Files on the hard drives of the computers will be deleted periodically; customers are encouraged to bring their own disks/CD's/USB driver with them to save their work.

F. Disks/CD's may be purchased for $1.00 at the front desk.

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IX. Violations of Policy:

A. The nature and seriousness of the offense shape the consequences.

B. The following actions may be taken:

- Warnings - discussion of Computer and Gaming policy and other applicable policies.
- Suspension of some aspect of library service (Internet, PlayStation, checkout of materials, etc.) for any length of time from 1 day to 3 months.
- Removal from the library's property for any length of time from 1 day to 3 months.
- Parents/guardians/caregivers of children under the age of 18 will receive a letter notifying them of the conduct violation and length of suspension of service or removal from the library property if suspension of library service exceeds 24 hours.
- Report to the authorities (Library Board and/or Police Department).
- Payment for damages to library materials and/or property, including cost to fix or replace.
- Banning from the library property for a period of up to a year or longer as per the discretion of the Library Director and the authorities.

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| 11.10.2008 |