ACCEPTABLE USE
OF THE LIBRARY POLICY
The Board of Trustees of the San Miguel County Public Library District #1, Wilkinson Public Library, adopts and makes public the following written policies:

sssThe Wilkinson Public Library Board of Trustees encourages all members of the community to use the library. It is the Board’s hope that patrons of all ages perceive the library as a warm, inviting, and pleasant place to be. In order to ensure that all library users are able to utilize the library without unnecessary distractions, each library patron must behave in a manner that respects the rights of all users of the library.
sssWilkinson Public Library strives to balance the rights of users to access different information resources with the rights of patrons to use the library and its resources free from harassing sounds and visuals. We ask all our library users to remain sensitive to the fact that they are working in a public environment shared by people of all ages, with a variety of information interests and needs.
An atmosphere that is conducive to learning will benefit all individuals who use the library. Therefore, the Board of Trustees hereby adopts the following Behavior Policy:
Disruptive behavior will not be allowed. Examples of disruptive behavior include, but are not limited to, the following:

1. Loud or boisterous behavior and other disorderly conduct.
2. Vulgar, abusive, or threatening language.
3. Misuse of library furnishings or equipment.
4. Excessive socializing without regard for the disturbance caused to other library users.
5. Running, throwing, fighting or any other behavior which disrupts other library patrons.
6. Viewing or downloading visual material that by local community standards would be considered obscene.
The following actions are not permitted in the library:
1. Solicitation
2. Smoking
3. Loitering
4. Eating (Except in the program room, outside spaces, and in designated areas during library events)

sssPatrons who cause repeated disruptions will be asked to leave the library premises. The Marshal will be contacted if the disruptive patron refuses to leave or reenters the building.
sssChildren under age 8 must be accompanied and directly supervised by an adult, at all times, in all areas of the library, and on its grounds.
sssUnattended children between ages 8 and 18 are free to utilize the library as long as needed, provided their behavior is not disruptive to other patrons or staff members. Parents are responsible for their children’s behavior on library premises. It is not the library’s responsibility to provide child care. If disruptive behavior continues, library staff are given the options of requesting the child leave, calling the parents, or calling the Marshal to escort the child home.
sssStaff are authorized to call the Marshal when the library closes if unattended children have not been picked up.
sssPatrons who repeatedly violate this behavior policy will be issued a suspension letter, suspending all library privileges for a defined period of time. The Library Director may issue the suspension letter after the first violation of this behavior policy if it is determined that such violation is severe. An “Accident/Incident Report Form” should be completed when a suspension letter is issued.

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UNATENDED CHILD POLICY
The Board of Trustees of the San Miguel County Public Library District #1, Wilkinson Public Library, adopts and makes public the following written policies:

sssThe Wilkinson Public Library welcomes the use of its facilities and services by children of all ages. Our services and programs are offered to make the library enticing to children, to encourage them to visit the library and to develop a love of books,
reading and libraries.
sssResponsibility for the welfare and the behavior of children using the library rests with the parent/guardian or an assigned chaperone. Though staff will always respond with care and concern, they cannot assume responsibility for children’s safety and comfort when they are unattended. Staff members may need to contact authorities such as the Town Marshal or emergency personnel either to assist with the enforcement of discipline in the library, to ensure the safety of an unattended child, or to provide emergency care in the event of an illness or accident.
sssParents should not use the library as an alternative to daycare. Parents should also realize that, even in their absence, they are legally responsible for their children’s behavior. For safety’s sake, parents should make sure that their children are sufficiently mature before allowing them to visit the library by themselves. Children under the age of eight must be accompanied by a parent/guardian or an assigned chaperone when using the library. Unattended children eight and over are free to use the Library’s resources as long as needed, provided that their behavior is not disruptive to other patrons or staff members. During regular service hours, if library staff judge that any youth is not coping adequately or is behaving in a disruptive manner, and a parent or caregiver is not
present, staff will contact the Town Marshal.
sssThe Library is also not responsible for the care and supervision of unaccompanied children prior to opening or after closing the building. The Library is not responsible for children outside the building who await transportation or who are socializing. Adults responsible for unattended school-age children using the library should be aware of the Library’s hours and make arrangements to meet the children on time. Should it be determined that a child has been left at the library without a ride or assistance home at closing time, staff members will attempt to contact a family member. If a family member cannot be reached, the Town Marshal will be called to escort the child home or keep the child until parents can be reached. A staff member will remain with the child until the Marshal has arrived. Staff members are not permitted to remain after hours with an unattended child nor give him/her a ride home. The Library Director will be informed whenever this action becomes necessary. The Director will contact the child’s parent or guardian to explain the library policy and why the action was required.

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INTERNET USE POLICIES

Background
sssIt is the intent of the Wilkinson Public Library to provide free, equitable, and organized public access to Internet resources. This access honors the fundamental library principle of intellectual freedom, an abiding respect for the dignity and privacy of individual
inquiry. In its World Wide Web site (http://www.telluridelibrary.org), the Wilkinson Public Library is committed not only to providing public access to this new communication medium, but also to:

• the development or purchase of local information resources (such as the catalog of our holdings, periodical indexes and databases, and other text files and databases of local or regional interest);
• the identification and organization of links to resources the library believes fit its general collection policies.
• search tools that reach far beyond the efforts of the Wilkinson Public Library to the manifold offerings of the Internet.

Disclaimer
sssIn total, the Wilkinson Public Library has no control over information accessed through the Internet. We cannot be held responsible for its content. As with other library materials, supervision or restriction of a child’s access to the Internet is the responsibility of the parent or legal guardian.
sssMuch of the information on the Internet is timely, useful, and/or entertaining. Some of it is dated, erroneous, or offensive. This is also the case with printed materials. Library users should cast a cautious and critical eye on any and all data they discover. The job of the library is access, not endorsement.

Use of Electronic Resources
Any of the following actions may result in the loss of library privileges and/or criminal prosecution or other legal action. Unacceptable use of the Wilkinson Public Library’s electronic resources includes, but is not limited to, the following:

1. It is not acceptable to use Wilkinson Public Library’s electronic resources for illegal
or criminal use. Specifically, users shall not view or print material which is obscene
as defined by Colorado Revised Statutes Title 18, Article 7, Section 101.
2. It is not acceptable to violate the legal protections provided by copyright and licenses
to program or data.
3. It is not acceptable to use Wilkinson Public Library resources to seek to infiltrate a
computer or computing system and/or damage or alter the software or hardware
components of a local or remote computer or computing system.
4. It is not acceptable to seek information on, obtain copies of, or modify files, other
data, or passwords belonging to other users. Users shall not represent themselves as
another user unless explicitly authorized to do so by that user.
5. It is not acceptable to falsify one’s age to gain access to Internet sites.
6. Downloading from the Internet is limited to removable media only (i.e. floppy disk,
zip disk). Downloading files of programs greater than ten megabytes is discouraged.
7. Headphones must be worn when accessing a website, program, or game that utilizes
sound. The playing of Internet radio is not allowed as it uses excessive bandwidth.
For Children Under 18
Revealing your own or anyone else’s full name, phone number, address, or any other
personally identifying information to anyone you do not know on the Internet is
dangerous and discouraged.
In general, we expect that our patrons will be both law-abiding and civil.
Revised and adopted 01.24.01

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