Patron Rights:
Users should not be restricted or denied access for expressing or receiving constitutionally protected speech.
The library must provide access to information on all subjects that serve the needs or interests of each user, regardless of the user's age or the content of the material.
The provision of access does not imply sponsorship or endorsement. Some information accessed electronically may not meet the library's selection or collection development policy.
It is, therefore, left to each user to determine what is appropriate. Parents and legal guardians who are concerned about their children's use of electronic resources should provide guidance to their own children. Parents, and only parents, have the right and the responsibility to restrict the access of their children, and only their children, to library resources. Librarians and governing bodies have a public and professional obligation to provide equal access to all library resources for all library users.
Installation of Filtering Software:
Although mindful of the above, the Trustees of Forbes Library have approved the installation of filtering software on selected computer terminals, including those in the Children's Room. This is done with the full realization that filtering software programs are imperfect site blocking technologies that can provide a false sense of security. In practice, filters do not block every site that may be considered objectionable and, in addition, may block sites that are considered useful and non-objectionable. For this reason, in order to provide children with equal, full access to all available information, children will be allowed to use unfiltered computers in the Reference Department, but only with the continuous supervision of a parent or legal guardian.
Prohibited Uses of the Internet:
- Using the Internet for illegal purposes
- Using the Internet in violation of the Massachusetts General Law 272 Section 31, the Harmful to Minors statute
- Unauthorized copying of copyright-protected material in any format
- Transmission of chain mail, broadcast letters, or junk mail of any type
- Transmission of threatening, harassing, defamatory or obscene materials
- Unauthorized access to remote computer systems
- Accessing the Internet at a terminal designated for some other stated purpose, such as the library catalog.