Introduction

As a global network, the scope of information found on the Internet is wide and diverse. The Greenwood Library supports free and open access to all forms of information and does not attempt to filter or censor the use of any of these resources. In support of our users' First Amendment right to freely seek and examine a broad range of opinions and ideas, the Library adheres to the following American Library Association (ALA) statements on access to information:

• Library Bill of Rights
• Freedom to Read Statement
• Freedom to View Statement
• First Amendment of the Bill of Rights to the U.S. Constitution
• Resolution on the Use of Filtering Software in Libraries

In addition to complying with the policies outlined in this document, the Library user also assumes certain responsibilities when using one of the Library's computers:

1. The Library assumes no responsibility for the accuracy, authority, objectivity, currency, or content of any Internet resource. Library users must peruse the Internet at their own risk, realizing the potential for accessing offensive, inaccurate or illegal information. Users must apply their own set of evaluative criteria to information.
2. It is the responsibility of the user to read and abide by this policy as well as the Acceptable Use of Information Technology Resources and Systems policy at Longwood University and the U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, US Code).
3. It is the Library's policy that parents or legal guardians must assume responsibility for deciding what Library resources are appropriate for their children. Guardians are advised to read and share with children under 18 the document published by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children entitled Child Safety on the Information Superhighway.

Policies Governing Use of Equipment

1. The Library will not take reservations for individual computer use.
2. Printing is allowed only for Longwood students, staff and faculty.
3. All users, including community users, may download to USB storage devices, save to the workstation's public folder and e-mail as an attachment or burn to a CD. Users must supply storage devices.
4. Users may not download files to the hard drive.
5. Personal communication (e-mail and chat rooms) is permitted.
6. Priority is given to Longwood students, faculty and staff for research.
7. The Library reserves the right to reclaim workstations being used for other purposes.
8. The Library reserves the right to schedule workstations for instruction or for access to electronic resources available only on specific machines.
9. Virus protection software is loaded on every computer in the Library. The Library will not be responsible for damage done to users' non-Library computer equipment as a result of downloading.
10. Library staff may limit the amount of time spent in assisting a user in order to provide adequate support for all other Library services. The type of assistance provided by a specific staff member may vary depending on their function in the Library. Individuals requiring more training than staff can give at the Learning Commons Desk are encouraged to schedule a training session during the semester.
11. For certain types of technical assistance, IITS and/or Resident Technology Associates are available to provide quality support and technical expertise to Longwood University residence hall and commuter students.
12. The Reference Department will provide the following types of assistance: instruction and research assistance; printing; resolving basic technical problems; describing available services and brief instructions on how to access them.
13. Attempts to damage or alter University equipment or software are a violation of University policy. Violators of this policy are subject to disciplinary action as prescribed in the University honor code, the student handbook and employee handbooks, in addition to possible cancellation of information technology resources and systems access privileges. 

Violations of This Policy

All users of University computing resources must comply with all federal, Virginia, and other applicable law; all generally applicable University rules and policies; and all applicable contracts and licenses. Examples of such laws, rules, policies, contracts, and licenses include the laws of libel, privacy, copyright, trademark, obscenity, and child pornography; the Electronic Communications Privacy Act and the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act, which prohibit "hacking," "cracking," and similar activities; the University's policy for Acceptable Use of Information Technology Resources and Systems, the University's judicial Code of Conduct standards; the University's Sexual Harassment and racial discrimination policies; the University's personnel policies; and all applicable software licenses. Users who engage in communications with persons in other states or countries or on other systems or networks should be aware that they may also be subject to the laws of those other states and countries and the rules and policies of other systems and networks. Users are responsible for ascertaining, understanding and complying with the laws, rules, policies, contracts and licenses applicable to their particular uses.

Violators of this policy are subject to disciplinary action as prescribed in the University honor code, the student handbook and employee handbooks, in addition to possible cancellation of information technology resources and systems access privileges. Violations will be handled through the University disciplinary procedures applicable to the relevant user. Policy violations by University employees, including faculty, will be handled in accordance with the Longwood University personnel policies and rules for classified employees, the Faculty Handbook and other applicable administrative policies and procedures. The University may also refer suspected violations of applicable law to appropriate law enforcement agencies. Users of information technology systems and resources at Longwood University are subject to all applicable university, local, state and federal statutes. It should be understood that this policy does not preclude prosecution of criminal and civil cases under the laws and regulations of the Town of Farmville, the Commonwealth of Virginia and the United States of America.

See the Longwood University Information & Instructional Technology Service's Policies and Procedures page for a complete listing of policies related to University computer / Internet use policies.

The Library will review this policy annually and reserves the right to revise it when necessary.

Approved August 2004
Updated August 2010