Internet Policy

1. Purpose

To ensure that use of public access computers available at Yarra Libraries is consistent with the Library's policies and all National and State laws.

2. Definitions

Copyright - the exclusive right granted by law for a certain term of years, to make and dispose of copies of, and otherwise control, a literary, musical, dramatic, or artistic work.
Library Service – Yarra Libraries

3. Access

The library service provides public access computers at each of its libraries. Each computer has access to the Internet and has word processing software available on them.

4. Use of computers

The library service requires parental permission for individuals who are under the age of 18 who wish to use the public access computers independently. Parents/Guardians will sign the library membership form which acknowledges that they have read and understood the libraries "Terms and Conditions of Use" for computer equipment available in the library.
Once parental permission has been received, the individual's library card will be crimped.

5. Bookings

Bookings are taken for a maximum of one hour at a time, except for the last booking of the day, which will be 50 minutes. To ensure equitable access of this service, only one pre-booked session per day is allowed, unless there is a vacancy immediately after that period. Library staff will manage the booking sheet.
Users' time will be calculated from the clock closest to the circulation desk.

6. Privacy of Information

• Using Computers - To ensure that private information is not viewed by others, please ensure to:
  • only save a copy of a document to a floppy disk drive or other portable storage device and not to the computers hard disk drive; and,
  • close the Internet browser or other applications you are using before you leave.

7. User Responsibility

7.1 General

• Users must not make any changes to the setup or configuration of the computers, this includes the loading of software applications including games and CD-ROMs.

Complaints regarding breaches of the policy are to be addressed to the circulation desk staff.

7.2 Access for Children

Parents/Guardians are responsible for any use of the Internet/email by their children and for any sites which may be accessed. The Library does not provide filtering software. The library does not have any control over the information accessible on the Internet. Some Internet sources may contain material which is inaccurate or which may cause offence to some people. The library does not accept responsibility for the accuracy of information on the Internet or for any consequences, which may arise from the use of that information. In particular, parents and caregivers are encouraged to work with their children in using the Internet. Library staff are available to assist with children's information needs but the library does not accept responsibility for determining what they should access.

7.3 Copyright

If you reproduce material protected by copyright without the permission of the copyright owner, you may infringe copyright. This includes printing material, saving to disk, and copying a file from one disk to another. Reproducing part of a work may infringe copyright, if the part is important; it need not be a large part. A copyright owner is entitled to take legal action against a person who infringes his or her copyright.
You should check whether there are any special conditions for the material you are viewing, particularly if the material is on a CD-ROM or an on-line database. If you are viewing material on the Internet, you should check whether there is a statement about copyright on the site where the material is stored.
If you copy material for your research or study, you may not infringe copyright provided your copying is fair. In deciding whether your use is fair, you should take into account:

• the purpose and character of the dealing;
• the nature of the work or adaptation;
• the possibility of obtaining the work within a reasonable time at an ordinary commercial price;
• the effect of the use upon the potential market for, or value of, the work; and,

where only part of the work or adaptation is copied - the amount and substantiality of the part copied taken in relation to the whole work or adaptation.

7.4 Offensive Material

The intentional downloading and/or viewing of material that contains content considered to be offensive as defined by the Victorian Equal Opportunity Act 1995 is not condoned.
Offensive material includes, but is not limited to:

• Obscene or harassing language or images;
• Racial, ethnic, sexual, erotic or gender specific comments or images; and, Other comments or images that would offend someone on the basis of their religious or political beliefs, sexual orientation, physical features, national origin or age.

8. Downloading of Information

Saving data to floppy disks is permitted and disks may be purchased at the library desk

9. Staff Assistance

Library staff are available to assist you in getting started on the computer. There are also resources about the Internet in branch collections.

10. Breaches of library policy will result in:

• In the first instance, a verbal explanation of the policy, its rationale and the procedures to be undertaken when it is breached.
• In the second instance, a written warning, detailing the nature of the breach, the time it occurred and procedures to be undertaken.
• In the third instance, written notification of withdrawal of access to the Internet service.

11. References

Victorian Equal Opportunity Act (1995) 
Copyright Act (1969)

To

---

Further information

Links

Within this site
Yarra City Council

External sites (Yarra City Council accepts no responsibility for the information or opinions contained within external sites)
Victoria's Virtual Library

Information supplied by: Electronic communications & design officer - 9205 5214 - 20 January 2006

---