Warning:

Patrons access computer and Internet information at their own risk. The information accessed may be inaccurate, out of date, or incomplete. Users are encouraged to exercise caution and critical judgement in evaluating the validity of information accessed via the Internet. Users of the Law Library’s computer and Internet services should have no expectation of privacy while accessing these resources. The Law Library assumes no responsibility for any damages, direct or indirect, arising from use of its computers and connections to the Internet.

User Responsibilities:

A copy of full text of the Computer and Internet Public Access Policy is available on this desktop and is posted on the library’s bulletin board. Please read this policy carefully before using the Law Library’s computer and Internet services. By using computer and Internet services at the Law Library, each user will be deemed to have agreed to abide by this Computer & Internet Public Access Policy, as adopted by the King County Law Library Board of Trustees.

All users of the Internet at the Law Library are required to use this resource in a responsible and courteous manner consistent with the purposes for which it is provided. The Library’s Rules of Patron Conduct apply to use of computer and Internet services.

Responsible and appropriate use of the Internet at the Library includes:

• Using the Library’s Internet resources for legal research purposes.
• Complying with the Library’s posted Rules of Conduct.
• Refraining from illegal or inappropriate use of the Internet.
• Respecting intellectual property rights by making only authorized copes of copyrighted or licensed data residing on the Internet.
• Refraining from damaging or altering the configuration of the equipment used to access the Internet.
• Respecting the privacy of others.

Inappropriate use of the Internet at the Library includes, but is not limited to:

• Viewing, printing or downloading of non-legal research related materials including but not limited to games and pornography.
• Participating in chat rooms.
• Accessing games or shopping/auction services.
• Changing the current settings of computer stations used to access the Internet.
• Downloading or uploading software or other files to or from this public access station.
• Hacking into remote computer systems.

Time Restrictions:

Outside the Training Center, patrons must sign up for Internet access to assure that access is fairly allocated on a first-come, first serve basis. Access is limited to 30 minutes at a time if others are waiting. Patrons are limited to a total of one hour’s access per day. Patrons may sign up one day in advance for a specific time-slot. If a patron does not claim a reserved time-slot within 10 minutes, the slot will be open for other patron’s use on a first-come, first-serve basis until the next scheduled appointment.
Inside the Training Center, computers are available by reservation on a first-come-first-served basis. Reservations may be made in person, including on a walk-in basis, or by calling (206) 296-0940 during the library’s hours of operation. Reservations will be accepted up to 1 week in advance. Only 1 reservation per patron will be taken at a time. Reservations will be held for 10 minutes past the starting time and then will be made available to anyone waiting for a computer. The next reservation will be taken at the completion of the previous reservation for that patron. Up to 2 hours of Training Center computer time may be used by an individual each day.

Children:

Consistent with the Law Library’s posted Rules of Conduct, it is the sole responsibility of parents and/or guardians to supervise their children’s/wards’ use of library resources, including Internet services. Parents and/or guardians will be held accountable for any of their children’s/wards’ violations of the Rules of Conduct or violations of this Computer & Internet Public Access Policy.

Printing:

Printing is centralized at the reference counter. Printing costs $.15 per page, payable at the reference counter. Downloading is available only in the Training Center. Library users are responsible for all their print jobs.

Enforcement:

In accordance with the procedures set forth in the Law Library’s Rules of Patron Conduct, failure to use these services responsibly and appropriately may result in:

• Suspension of equipment use privileges, and/or
• Suspension of access to the Law Library

All Law Library staff have the authority and the responsibility to enforce this policy.

The King County Law Library has made public access computer and Internet stations available solely for legal research purposes. The Law Library’s mission is to serve the legal research needs of the community. Patrons engaged in general (non-legal) study or research should use other libraries. The Law Library reserves the right to ask patrons to verify that they are using computer and Internet services for legal research purposes only.

Adopted1/19/2000
Revised 5/15/2002