Internet Safety Policy

It is the policy of the Portsmouth Public Library to use technology protection measures in an attempt to:

1. a)  Prevent access to or transmission of inappropriate material via Internet, electronic mail, or other forms of electronic communication;
2. b)  Prevent unauthorized access and other unlawful online activity;
3. c)  Prevent unauthorized online disclosure, use or dissemination of personal identification of minors; and
4. d)  Comply with the Children’s Internet Protection Act [Pub. L. No. 106-554 and 47 USC 254(h)].

Access to Inappropriate Material

To the extent practical, technology protection measures shall be used to block or filter Internet content. Specifically, as required by the Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA), blocking shall be applied to visual depictions of material deemed obscene, child pornography, or harmful to minors, as defined in the CIPA.

Subject to staff supervision, technology protection measures may be disabled, during use by an adult, only for bona fide research or other lawful purposes.

Inappropriate Network Use

To the extent practical, steps shall be taken to promote the safety and security of users of the Portsmouth Public Library’s online computer network when using electronic mail, chat rooms, instant messaging, and other forms of direct electronic communications. Specifically, inappropriate network usage includes:

1. a)  Unauthorized access, including hacking and other unlawful activities; and
2. b)  Unauthorized disclosure, use, and dissemination of personal identification information regarding minors.

Supervision and Monitoring

It shall be the responsibility of Portsmouth Public Library staff to supervise and monitor usage of the Technology Protection Measure in use on the computer network, and access to the Internet in accordance with this policy, the Portsmouth Public Library Patron Access to the Internet Policy, and the CIPA.

Patrons are responsible for what they access on the internet, and parents or guardians are responsible for their children’s use of the internet. It is not the responsibility of library staff to monitor all content accessed.

Procedures for disabling or otherwise modifying any technology protection measures shall be the responsibility of the Technology Coordinator or designated representatives.

The library acknowledges that no filtering technology is available that will block out all illegal content while allowing all constitutionally protected material.

Terms:

Minor – an individual who has not attained the age of 17 years
Technology Protection Measure – a specific technology that blocks or filters Internet content Obscene – as defined in section 1460 of title 18 United States Code
Child Pornography – as defined in section 2256 of title 18, United States Code
Harmful to Minors – any picture, image, graphic image file, or other visual depiction that:

1. a)  Taken as a whole and with respect to minors, appeals to a prurient interest in nudity, sex or excretion;
2. b)  Depicts, describes, or represents in a patently offensive way with respect to what is suitable for minors, an actual or simulated sexual act or sexual contact, actual or simulated normal or perverted sexual acts, or a lewd exhibition of the genitals; and
3. c)  Taken as a whole, lacks serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value as to minors.

Sexual Act; Sexual Contact – as defined in section 2246 of title 18, United States Code