Wicomico Public Library Resources via the Internet

The Internet is an ungoverned and unregulated source of information that librarians and filtering software cannot control. Library users must recognize their increased responsibility when using this resource. Users of the Internet must continually evaluate the information they retrieve, both the validity as well as the suitability of the information, according to their own standards.

The Wicomico Public Library Board of Trustees does not allow the following:

•   Violation of copyright laws or software licensing agreements;

•   Activity which is disruptive, offensive, libelous, or slanderous;

•   Activity which violates another user's privacy;

•   Access and display of materials that are obscene or constitute child pornography (as   defined by federal statutes, 18 U.S. Code, Sections 1460 and 2256, and Maryland Annotated Code, Criminal Law Article, Title 11, Subtitle 2, Obscene Matter)

To be in compliance with the federal law CIPA (Children's Internet Protection Act, 2000) and Maryland Law Article 23, Section 506.1, the Wicomico Public Library Board of Trustees authorized the installation of filtering software which blocks pornography and obscenity on all Internet access computers.

Customers should be aware that filtering software is not a perfect tool. Thus:

• If a customer believes that a specific www site should either be blocked or un-blocked, the Request for Reconsideration of Library Resources form should be completed. Please ask a librarian for a copy of the information packet which contains information about the process and the appropriate form.
  
• Customers displaying or accessing obscenity or child pornography will be told that this behavior violates the library policy and may be instructed to leave the library for the day or longer. Details on these procedures can be found in the library's Procedures for Security Incidents. Please ask Librarian for a copy.

Approved by Board of Trustees, October 14, 2003

Wicomico Public Library
122 S. Division Street, Salisbury, MD 21801
Phone: 410-749-3612 Fax: 410-548-2968

Policy For Access To Electronic Information