Stowe Free Library

• Patrons are required to sign up at the circulation desk to use a computer.
• The Library staff is responsible for the day-to-day maintenance of the computers. Users should report problems to staff immediately. The staff provides limited assistance for start-up procedures only.
• Patrons may reserve time on the computers for the current day only. A patron is allowed one half hour use per day with an additional half hour if no one else is waiting. A reservation will be forfeited if a patron is more than ten minutes late.
• Due to space constraints, computer use is limited to a maximum of two people per computer workstation.
• Use of the Internet for activities that violate local, state, or federal laws is prohibited.
• Display of sexually explicit graphics is inappropriate in a public environment. The Library reserves the right to ask users to refrain from displaying inappropriate computer images.

• Computers in the children's area are reserved for use by children and young adults (through middle school age) only.
• Computers in the children's area are to be used primarily for research including appropriate web sites and educational software. Librarians reserve the right to prohibit chat room use and/or any use that violates library policy.
• Computer use is limited to no more than two children per computer. Study groups may request an exception to this rule by speaking to the children's librarian. Due to the size of the room, no more than four people may use the room at one time.
• Children may sign up for one half hour per day. If no one is waiting to use the computer, they may stay on for an additional half hour. If two children are on one computer, they will be considered one user.
• Printing charges will be 10 cents per page.
• Children are expected to respect another person's privacy and to observe the library's rules of conduct. Failure to comply with these rules may result in loss of computer privileges.

• Two laptops are available for teens in grades 7-12. A 6^th grader may use a laptop at a librarian's discretion. Priority will be given to those with homework needs.
• Each laptop may be signed out for 30 minutes per person. If no one is waiting, that user may stay on for one more 30 minute period, but will have to relinquish the computer if someone else requests it.
• If a patron needs a quiet place to work, he or she may use the meeting room if the room is available. Only those patrons doing homework on the computers will be allowed to use the meeting room.
• Laptops may be used inside the library only. Patrons may not take a computer onto the porch, the front or back hallway, the gazebo, or anywhere else out of the main library.
• Laptops will print to a wireless printer. First 5 print-outs will be free of charge. Remaining print-outs will cost 10 cents per page.

• The library cannot be held responsible for any damage or loss of
  data incurred while using library technology.
• Unauthorized access to the Stowe Free Library computer system is
  strictly prohibited. Users will not engage in any such activity or attempt to
  access the SFL computer system for the purpose of altering or manipulating hardware or software.
• Patrons must not purposely alter, install, remove or damage computer software or hardware, including library files or settings.

• The cost to repair damage knowingly caused by any patron to library computers or their peripherals will be charged to that patron. Parents or legal guardians are responsible for the charges of patrons under the age of 18.
• Printing charges will be 10 cents per page.

• Use of the Internet and the World Wide Web cannot be considered
  secure. Therefore patrons should consider their Internet activity as public information and limit their activities accordingly.
• Non-library files on the computer hard drive, the contents of the temporary folders and the cache, as well as the location bar on the Internet browsers, will be deleted daily.
• The Stowe Free Library will treat information displayed on its computers and/or printers, including its patron and circulation records as
  confidential. Requests for disclosure of information will only be honored when required by local, state, or federal law.

By clicking INTERNET ACCESS you consent to the conditions of the Stowe Free Library Acceptable Use Policy and your browser, Mozilla Firefox, will open

The complete Stowe Free Library Acceptable Use Policy is available at the main desk

In order to ensure the fair use of the computer technology now available at this Library, computer users are asked to observe the following guidelines. For more detailed guidelines or to view the Acceptable Use Policy in its entirety, please speak with the Librarian. This policy was reviewed March 2008.

• Users may sign up at the circulation desk for one half-hour appointment per day, although they may continue to use the computer for another half-hour if no one is waiting.
• Groups of users will count as one user and be held to the time frame above. No more than two people may be at the computer workstation at any one time.
• Computer use is first come, first served; users must sign up on the sheet.
• Users may use only those programs and services posted on the computer; do not download other programs or save personal files onto the computer. Are you Instant Messaging? Please visit http://www.meebo.com to access the IM software for AOL, Yahoo!, Google Talk, and MSN/Microsoft without having to download the individual programs.
• Non-library files on the computer hard drive, the contents of the temporary folders and the cache, as well as the location bar on the Internet browsers, will be deleted daily.
• There is a charge of 10 cents per page to print.
• Please do not eat or drink around the computer.
• Properly exit applications when finished.
• As the computer is in a public area, be aware that the screen will be visible to other Library patrons.
• The cost to repair damage caused by the failure to adhere to any of the above guidelines may be charged to the Library user responsible.
• As with other Library materials, restriction of a child's access to the computer and the Internet is the responsibility of the parent or legal guardian.

• No waiting for an available computer
• No enforced time limits-- connect as long as you like
• Library card is not required
• Work in a quieter area of the building
• Fast access
• Download files
• Save your files permanently on your own device

• No printing services are currently available
• A WiFi network is less secure than a wired network (see "How Safe is WiFi?" below)
• Signal strength varies within the library

• You are responsible for setting up your own equipment.
• Library staff cannot assist you with your laptop card or configuration.
• The library cannot accept the liability of handling your equipment.
• Printers are not currently available through our wireless connection.

• Wireless hardware and software varies as to the operating systems you may use on your laptop or PDA, so the same instructions may not work for everyone. In many cases, you don't need to do anything to hook up, except to click on your browser.
• Most wireless software has an indicator that tells you a signal is being
  received. Make sure the link quality and signal strength are both at least
  "good." If not, move about the room to a location that has a
  stronger signal.