Valley Cottage Library

VALLEY COTTAGE LIBRARY

Library Mission Statement and Policies

Mission Statement
The Valley Cottage Library is an association library serving the people of the Nyack School District. It is dedicated to providing an environment in which materials, programs, exhibits and services support and enhance the educational, artistic, professional, personal and recreational needs and interests of the community. The library serves as a major resource center for information and provides space for community activities. Special emphasis is placed upon acquiring and maintaining materials in a variety of formats and offering exhibits and programs designed to stimulate knowledge of and an appreciation for the community’s rich heritage, talent and diversity. As the needs and interests of the community change, the library will continue its challenge to excellence and responsibly provide those services to which it-has committed itself.

Electronic Resources/Internet Policy
The Valley Cottage Library is pleased to provide access to the World Wide Web. Through this resource our users will be able to access a vast array of information for all age groups and interests. These access points, which often change rapidly and unpredictably, cannot be controlled by library staff.
The Valley Cottage Library does not monitor and has no control over information accessed through the Internet and cannot be responsible for its content. As with other library related materials and databases, restriction of access is the responsibility of the user or the user's parents or legal guardian or caregiver.
The Library cannot guarantee the accuracy of any information on the Web.
This Internet-based access is provided by the Valley Cottage Library free to the public as part of its policy to continue providing quality services and resources to meet all informational needs.
The Valley Cottage Library will not assume any responsibility for damages, direct or indirect, arising from the use of electronic services through the library.
Public Accessibility
Any person, regardless of age or residency, may have free access to the electronic resources at the Valley Cottage Library with the following stipulations:
All users of the Internet stations in the adult area must by 14 years or older. Users under 14 must be accompanied by a parent, legal guardian or caregiver. No more than two people at a time may sit at each computer.

Users of the Internet stations in the Children’s area must be under 16 years of age. Users aged 16 or older may accompany the primary users who are under age 16. No more than two people at a time may sit at each computer.

Users of the Internet must follow all procedures established by the Library which insures equitable use of all Electronic Resources. Users must respect time limits and closing times at each station.

Unacceptable use
Any of the following actions will result in the loss of library privileges and/or criminal prosecution or other legal action. Unacceptable use of the Valley Cottage's Electronic Resources includes, but is not limited to, the following:

It is not acceptable to use Valley Cottage Electronic Resources in any manner which violates federal or state laws or regulations or which violates the unacceptable use policy of this library as set forth in Part II hereof. (Please see Part II - Electronic Resources/Internet Policy-Unacceptable Uses for complete details.)
Users must respect the legal protection provided by copyright and license to programs and data.
Users shall not intentionally develop or use programs that infiltrate a computer or computing system and/or damage or alter the software components of a local or remote computer or computing system.
Users shall not intentionally seek information on, obtain copies of, or modify files, other data, or passwords belonging to other users. They shall not represent themselves as another user unless explicitly authorized to do so by that user.
Users may not download or install programs on Valley Cottage Library computers and may not run any programs not provided by the library unless specifically authorized by the library.

The Valley Cottage Library has a Board approved policy available for processing abusers of the above policy. This is available upon request.
Adopted April 2002
Revised September 21, 2005, June 21, 2006, April 18, 2007

Part II - Electronic Resources/Internet Policy
Unacceptable Uses In the event that any individual as a library patron of the Valley Cottage Library utilizes a computer terminal or library computer portal or other computer access facility or medium (including personal devices of patrons) to gain access to an Internet site, web site, computer database, or other computer facility (hereafter "computer device") and as a result of such action any computer terminal or screen in the public rooms of the library displays graphic materials of an inappropriate nature such as pictures, signs, symbols, insignias or words as:
(i) indications of a hate group which is communicating a message which incorporates violence or injury to others or any group dedicated to illegal discrimination; or (ii) sexually explicit materials, which exhibit private parts of the human anatomy (female breasts, male or female genitalia) in a lurid and prurient manner; or (iii) which displays pornography or child pornography or other graphic materials, or language, which would violate the laws of the United States or the State of New York; or (iv) displays bodily functions or bodily injury or physical harm to humans or animals in a vulgar or gross manner; which materials as displayed violate generally accepted community standards of the Hamlet of Valley Cottage community or the Town of Clarkstown community which the Valley Cottage Library serves, as such standards ordinarily apply to individuals who are employed by or patronize the Valley Cottage Library, including members of the general public such as young adults and children who may be accompanying adults in the adult reading room, which display would be determined ordinarily under the above criteria to be objectionable, then in any such instance the staff of the Valley Cottage Library is authorized to take the following actions in a progressive manner:
1. A communication verbally, in writing, or by electronic message shall be transmitted to the library patron(s) responsible for the displays on the specific computer terminal and the patron(s) shall be asked to discontinue the display of such materials and in such instance, the patron shall terminate the display with all deliberate speed;
2. If the library patron(s) fails or refuses to discontinue use of any computer device in violation of the foregoing standards and in disregard of the request to discontinue such use, the library patron(s) shall be provided with a written notice of the violation and shall be asked to leave the library for the remainder of the library's business day;
3. If the library patron(s) fails or refuses to discontinue the use of any computer terminal the individual's privileges to use the computer device shall be suspended for a period of up to six (6) months. If after any six (6) month suspension, a library patron violates this policy on one or more additional occasions, the privileges of the library patron(s) shall be suspended for additional periods of one (1) year each for any subsequent violations;
4. If the privileges of any library patron(s) to use any computer device is suspended by any
member of the library staff under this policy, the patron(s) who is suspended shall have the right to appeal such suspension to the Board of Trustees of the Library and the Library Board will hear and consider such appeal or designate an hearing officer to hear such appeal and to report and make recommendations to the Board of Trustees of the Library for determination. The rules of evidence shall not apply with regard to any such hearing and any individual who presents an appeal shall be limited to fifteen (15) minutes to present his or her arguments in support of their case and as part of the appeal process, may present written documentation in support of their appeal;
5. In the event the library patron(s) refuses to leave the library and continues to use a computer device in violation of the foregoing policy and in violation of any requests to discontinue and to leave the premises, the Police Department of the Town of Clarkstown shall be contacted and an appropriate charge of trespass shall be filed against the library patron(s) in accordance with the Penal Law of the State of New York;
6. This policy is intended to supplement all other Valley Cottage Library policies, regulations or directions concerning the use of computer devices; if there is any conflict between any other library policy, regulation or directive, this policy is to control.

Dated: Valley Cottage, New York
Resolution passed by the Valley Cottage Library
Board of Trustees- April 5, 2002
Revised April 18, 2007