Internet Use Policy

Policy #206: Adopted December 1998

To fulfill its mission of providing free and equal access to information, knowledge, independent learning and the joy of reading to our diverse community, the San Francisco Public Library provides access to the Internet.

The Internet

The Internet consists of information on a wide range of topics provided by millions of individuals and organizations around the world.

Disclaimer

Links to Internet sites can be found on the home web pages designed by the staff of the San Francisco Public Library. The Library follows its materials selection guidelines in linking other web sites to its home pages. Beyond this, the Library has not participated in the development of these other sites and does not exert any editorial or other control over these sites. Any link from the Library’s web site to another web site is not an endorsement from the Library. The Library does not warrant that its web site, the server that makes it available, or any links from its site to other web sites are free of viruses or other harmful components.

User Responsibility

The Library does not monitor or control the content of the material accessed through the Internet and cannot be held responsible for its contents. Not all information found on the Internet is accurate, complete, up-to-date, legal or philosophically acceptable to all individuals. The Library assumes no responsibility and shall have no liability for any direct, indirect or consequential damages arising from the use of information found on the Internet, or any communications sent through the Library’s Internet terminals. The Library does not monitor an individual’s use of the Internet; nor does the Library employ filtering software.

Access and Usage

The Library does not provide e-mail accounts to users; however, users with existing e-mail accounts may access their accounts through the Library’s Internet terminals. The Library assumes no responsibility and shall have no liability for any claims or damages which result from the provision of such access to users.

As with other library materials, restriction of a child’s access to the Internet is the responsibility of the parent or legal guardian.

Use of the Library’s terminals for the transmission, dissemination, and/or duplication of information is regulated under various state and federal laws. The Library expects all users to comply with such laws.

The Library has developed "Guidelines for acceptable use of Library resources, equipment and facilities" (12/98 guidelines being revised 7/03). In addition, the Library Commission has adopted "Guidelines for Library Use" (adopted 8/7/01) for the Library (Policy # SFPL-301, 12/90). Any users of the Library’s Internet terminals must follow the Library Guidelines and Guidelines for Library Use.

Approved by Library Commission

12/98

Digital Millennium Copyright Act

The Chief of Information Technology is the San Francisco Public Library's designated agent for receiving notifications of copyright infringement:

Vivian Pisano
Chief of Information Technology
FAX: (415) 437-4899
E-mail: vpisano@sfpl.org

For more information on the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, visit the United States Copyright Office Web site (http://lcweb.loc.gov/copyright/).