General Policies

The Atkinson Public Library District's staff may provide assistance to patrons in the use of electronic information networks as time and staff knowledge permits. Printed and online documentation and instructions are available at or near points of service. Formal instruction in particular aspects of electronic information network use may be available.

Due to limited disk drive space and/or printing capabilities, the library does not allow users to download files onto a computer's hard drive; documents may be saved to a personal storage device instead. Furthermore, the library does not provide e-mail accounts and encryption is not available on the library's Internet terminals. Due to this limitation - and because computers are in public view - patrons are discouraged from using these terminals as a means to send sensitive information, including, but not limited to: credit card or social security numbers.

The Atkinson Public Library District requires that library patrons using electronic information networks such as the Internet do so within the guidelines of acceptable use. 

The following activities have been deemed unacceptable by the Atkinson Public Library District:

• Use of electronic information networks for any purpose which results in the harassment of other users.
• Destruction of, damage to, or unauthorized alteration of the library's computer equipment software or network security procedures.
• Use of electronic information networks in any way which violates Federal or State law.
• Use of electronic information networks in any way that violates licensing and payment agreements between the library and network/database providers. 
• Unauthorized duplication of copy-protected software or violation of software license agreements.
• Violation of system security.
• Behaving in a manner that is disruptive to others, including but not limited to: overuse of computer equipment which serves to deny access to other users.

The responsibility for supervision of children's use of any library materials, including computer access, belongs to the parents or guardians of the child.  The Atkinson Public Library's Unattended Child Policy states no child under the age of 13 may be left unattended while using the Internet or library Wi-Fi without either the knowledge or supervision of a parent or guardian. Some material available on the Internet may be deemed inappropriate for children by their parents or guardians; therefore, parents or guardians - not the library staff - are responsible for the information accessed by children while on library computers or Wi-Fi.

The library reserves the right to establish procedures for use of public computer workstations in order to make access available to all persons in a timely manner. Copies of the public use computer procedures are available at the library's Information Services Desk.