Acceptable Usage Policy
1. All members of the public are entitled to use the computer facilities provided by Barnet Council at the designated sites. The council believes that the public are entitled to access the Internet for their informational, educational and leisure needs on payment of the appropriate fee (where applicable).
Access
2. Children and young people under the age of 16 will only be allowed to access a limited range of childrens websites unless a parent or guardian has signed a consent form to allow wider access. Parents and guardians are responsible for ensuring that their children abide by the Acceptable Usage Policy.
3. Access is free for the first hour of use each day in any library to users presenting a valid Barnet library membership card. If you do not have a library card or wish to book a further hour, current computer hire charges apply. A maximum of two-hours use per day is permitted.
4. You will be required to pay in advance and pay for any printing at the current rate. A receipt will be given. You will be refunded if the computer facilities become unavailable due to problems with the council network.
5. You may book up to a week in advance. If you fail to turn up for a session within 10 minutes of the start time for your booking the computer may be rebooked to another customer. Please give us 24 hours notice if you wish to cancel your booking.
6. All bookable computers are controlled by an automated PC booking system. At the end of your session this system automatically shuts down the computer and clears any files stored locally in preparation for the next user. Warning messages are displayed at 10 minutes and one minute before your session ends.
Filtering and security policy
7. All Internet access is filtered and monitored. Abuse of the computer facilities may result in the withdrawal of your facilities to use the public computers.
8. You may use your own floppy disks, USB storage or CD-ROMs (where CD-ROM drives are available). Blank floppy disks and CD-ROMs are available for sale in libraries. All disks will be automatically virus-checked by anti-virus software.
However, although we take reasonable steps to ensure our PCs are virus-free, Barnet Council takes no responsibility or liability for any claim, loss or damage resulting from your use of the service.
Use of the Internet and email
9. Users must not deliberately visit, view, or download any material from any website containing pornographic, abusive, racist, violent or illegal material or material which is offensive in any way whatsoever. Barnet’s decision as to which Web sites fall into these categories is final.
10. You must not download any images, text, sound or other material that is in breach of copyright. The council accepts no responsibility for any breaches that may occur.
11. Users are responsible for any damage caused to the computer equipment arising out of any wilful act or negligent misuse. Users must not attempt to gain unauthorised access to restricted part of the network, or attempt to undermine the integrity or security of any computer systems or network. Users must not install any software from the Internet, CD-ROM, USB device or floppy disk.
12. Please be aware that the Internet is not a secure medium. Users sending personal, financial, sensitive or confidential material do so at their own risk and council accepts no responsibility for any loss.
The council is not liable for any losses or disputes resulting from on-line banking, shopping or trading in stocks & shares etc. Users participate in these activities at their own risk and must indemnify the council against any claim or demand that may be made against them as a result of their activities.
November, 2005
