Office of Libraries Technology: Policy

The University of Louisville ("UofL") enters into arrangements with various Internet service providers ("ISPs") from time to time whose policies would control the acceptable use of any and all network services provided to the UofL community. UofL also has implemented university-wide guidelines and limitations on acceptable uses of computing resources at the university, including computing accounts, resources, and remote access to intranet services. In addition, Kentucky statute defines specific crimes that might arise from certain uses of state computing resources and sets forth corresponding criminal penalties for unacceptable uses [see Appendix A].

Policy on the Use of Information Technology Resources in University Libraries.

This policy governs the use of computing and information technology resources within and controlled by University Libraries (“Libraries”), including any and all resources provided by others in arrangement with the Libraries. University Libraries holds full authority to apply this Policy to determine acceptable uses of Libraries information technology resources, including applying sanctions for unacceptable uses under its authority within UofL and consistent with broader UofL IT policies and university governance. To the extent that this policy might from time to time become inconsistent with overarching UofL and ISP policies, university authorities would rely on the broader policies to determine whether a use is acceptable and appropriate in consultation with University Libraries. University Libraries reserves the right to revise this policy to reflect the dynamics of rapidly evolving technologies and changing legal conditions.

[approved by ACT on 11 September 2002 and becomes effective on that date]

"Public Users" would include members of the general public, walk-in patrons in the library, students at UofL, and in the absence of prior arrangements with University Libraries, any faculty and staff of UofL not directly affiliated with or employed by the Libraries. This section of the policy applies to the use of public workstations and like facilities made available for general use within the Libraries.

1. Users may make use of public workstations and like facilities solely for nonprofit, noncommercial, and educational purposes consistent with the Libraries mission.
2. The Internet and Web are unregulated resources. The Libraries does not monitor or control information available on or from these sources. Some content and software may be of dubious appropriateness, accuracy, reliability, timeliness, validity, and value and may infringe copyright and other rights.
3. The Internet and Web are not generally anonymous. A range of perhaps trivial, sometimes crucial, information about you can and often will be collected through various means and technologies when you visit websites and like offerings. If you are concerned about your privacy, you should examine privacy policies on visited sites. You also should avoid using public machines to access “secured” sites that require you to enter personal information in order to access the site.
4. The Libraries supports fully patron rights to access freely all legally available information within the range of Libraries resources. Not all materials available from such resources, including the Internet, however, are appropriate or suitable for public display. You should use the highest standard of judgment and discretion in deciding whether displaying such materials is acceptable and lawful in a public environment.
5. U.S. copyright law governs, among other activities, the making of copies of copyrighted materials. Under current law, nearly all information that is "original" and "fixed in a tangible" medium of expression is protected automatically by copyright. University Libraries also licenses some electronically available materials. Terms of the licenses would govern the use of these materials. Users are solely responsible for making appropriate and lawful uses of copyrighted and licensed materials in making use of Libraries resources and technologies.
6. The Libraries encourages and fully supports diversity and the expression of a wide-range of perspectives and ideas in a civil society and consistent with the Library Bill of Rights and Access to Electronic Information, Services, and Networks: An Interpretation of the Library Bill of Rights principles set forth by the American Library Association. In support of these principles, the Libraries strictly prohibits the use of Libraries resources to disrupt, impair, limit, or otherwise harm the rights and activities of others through means such as harassment, offensive conduct, hate mail, derogatory comments, and like forms of inappropriate or unlawful expressions and activities. The Libraries also prohibits making use of Libraries resources to pursue or conduct illegal activities, to access or transmit material violating applicable laws or regulations, and to alter, delete, reconfigure, damage, destroy, or otherwise harm network integrity at UofL and elsewhere, other servers and technology infrastructure, and Libraries property, such as workstations, laptops, or other information resources.
7. Parents or legal guardians of children assume full responsibility and liability for the activities of their children while the children visit University Libraries and when the children use University Libraries information resources, including accessing the Internet and the Web. Remember: The Internet and Web are unregulated resources, and the Libraries does not monitor or control information available from them.
8. Users in most circumstances may download information and data to a pre-formatted diskette provided by the user. Diskettes also may be purchased at the CopyIT Center. All downloading must conform to applicable laws and this Policy. Virus checking is the responsibility of the user. The Libraries is not responsible for any loss or damage to personal disks when downloading materials.
9. Libraries computers typically provide a wide selection of commonly used and current software and software tools. No other software may be loaded onto a Libraries computer or other information resource.
10. Members of the UofL academic community are given priority over the general public for the use of the Library’s computers. The Libraries reserves the ability to set time limits on the use of resources and the right to ask any person to cease using a computer if the library staff has a reasonable basis to believe that person is violating university or library policy or applicable law.

Penalties will be imposed in accordance with established university policies and will depend upon the nature and severity of the violation. Any user who is found to be continually abusing the Policy or other Libraries policies may be subject to suspension from the Libraries. Certain violations also may lead to a complete suspension of the use of all UofL IT resources. The Libraries will summon Campus Security to remove anyone who is suspected of misusing computers and violating university or Libraries policies. If the violation constitutes a crime or potential crime, the matter will be referred to appropriate law enforcement authorities.