Policies

Utica Public Library Internet Access Policy

In accordance with its stated mission to "provide access to the entire sum of human knowledge, inside and outside the library building, and to offer people of all ages in the Utica community and the Mid-York Library System opportunities for reading, learning, growth, and improvement," the Utica Public Library is committed to supplementing its traditional print resources with access to electronic information sources such as the Internet. The Internet is a vast global electronic network, which allows the user to search local, national, and international sites for information, ideas or opinions on a nearly infinite variety of topics. Because the Internet is enormous in its scope, is continuously changing and is unmonitored by any single agency or authority, the library is unable to guarantee the accuracy, currency or completeness of the information accessed. In addition some sites may carry information that users may regard as inappropriate or controversial. The library is neither responsible nor liable for the content of Internet sites. Realizing that each person encountering new ideas brings to the encounter their own standards and perceptions, the library reminds Internet users that they access the network at their own discretion.

The Utica Public Library agrees with the view of the American Library Association as stated in the Library Bill of Rights, "a person's right to use a library should not be denied or abridged because of origin, age, background or views." Although the library recognizes that patrons may encounter sites on the Internet that they regard as objectionable, offensive or possessed of content they deem inappropriate for children, we must remind them that the staff cannot monitor these children as they explore the information resources, either print or electronic, available in the library. That type of supervision is the right and responsibility of the child's parent or legal guardian. We expect that parents or caretakers of children will guide them in their exploration of the Internet in the same way that they provide guidance in the child's choice of reading, listening or viewing materials.