The
primary purpose of the Lansing Community College Library is to provide information resources in furtherance of student academic success.
These resources are primarily curriculum oriented and available to LCC
students, faculty and staff.
As a partially tax supported public institution, the LCC Library uses a
community service oriented "open door " approach providing
access to resources within the library for non -LCC affiliated users.
In times of heavy use, users who are not currently enrolled in LCC or
in an institution contracting with LCC for library services may be
asked to vacate a computer station to allow students to conduct research.
LCC course related research takes precedence over all other
Internet use.
Internet and Its Content
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The Internet is a worldwide network of computer networks that has emerged
during approximately the past thirty years. Originally based in research-oriented
institutions, it has recently exploded into a vast information reservoir with millions
of interconnected computers and tens of millions of participants.
Although there are organizations providing coordination of technical access and
transmission procedures, there is no central control over Internet
content. Thus the Internet may contain electronic information
resources, which some individuals may consider objectionable or
offensive. Neither LCC nor the LCC Library controls the content of
information that resides on the Internet. They shall not be
responsible for ensuring the accuracy or usability of any information
found on the Internet. Internet Access Through The LCC Library Filtering programs
are available which endeavor to sort electronic content. However, none of them are
context sensitive. They may be useful to individuals, households, or homogeneous groups,
but they are grossly inadequate for a heterogeneous community such as
Lansing Community College.
Thus LCC does not use filtering software to block access to information resources and
cannot protect individuals from chance encounters with information or images which an
individual may consider offensive The individual Internet user at the LCC Library is
responsible for the content he/she retrieves or displays on screen.
Although
the LCC Library strives to protect user privacy and will not reveal
information about an individual's use of library computer resources
unless compelled to do so by court order or pursuant to enforcing
Acceptable Use Regulations, users are cautioned that library computers
they use are located in public space. The LCC Library cannot assure
users that its employees and other patrons will not observe the
computer screens or materials employed in these public areas. The LCC Library
does not monitor the Internet
locations library users choose to use. However, if library staff (or
LCC computer network staff doing system maintenance) observes user
violation of Acceptable Use Regulations, library staff will take
appropriate steps in accordance with these Regulations.
Within available staff resources, LCC and the LCC Library strive to maintain
their computing resources in good working order and free of viruses.
However, publicly accessed resources are
subject to damage through misuse (unintentional or intentional) that
cannot always be immediately detected or corrected. Therefore, LCC and
the LCC Library assume no responsibility for user loss of data, user
disk damage, or other damage resulting from use of the library computer resources.
Civil Behavior Expected From Users
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To efficiently and effectively provide shared resources and assist user
access to a diversity of information,
libraries rely on the cooperation of their users. The LCC Library strives to
balance the rights of users to access a wide range of information resources with the rights
of users to work in a public environment free
from intrusive sounds and visuals. The LCC Library
asks all its users to remain sensitive to the fact that
they are working in a public space shared by people of all ages, with a variety of information
interests, needs and viewpoints. The
LCC Library expects users of its Internet access services to act in a
responsible, ethical, legal, and appropriate manner.
Limitations on Access
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Pursuant to its primary purpose, the LCC Library is oriented to research information retrieval
in support of LCC curricular programs. Library computers are not to be used for
non-course-related activities.
Examples of Unacceptable Use
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Examples of unacceptable uses that subject a library user to sanction
include but are not limited to:
Non-course-related activities.
Violation of Michigan criminal laws, including (but not limited to) Michigan
obscenity laws MCLA 752.361-752.374 and other Michigan
statutes and cases concerning obscenity.
Damaging hardware or software or propagating computer viruses.
Adding to or altering computer desktops.
Unauthorized entry into the library 's network or into any other computer system.
Libeling,
slandering or harassing others, or violating another person 's privacy.
Distributing advertising.
Violating copyright, software license agreements or communication laws.
Description of or unauthorized monitoring of another person 's use.
Sanctions
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Sanction for violation of any of these Acceptable Use Regulations or the LCC
Acceptable Use policy may vary
according to the seriousness of the violation. Ordinarily the user
will be given an oral warning. Refusal to cease prohibited behavior
after an oral warning constitutes illegal trespass on LCC
property and may be prosecuted. For serious or repeated offenses, sanctions may
include a suspension of all or a portion of library privileges for a
specified period of time or indefinitely. Moreover, in the cases of
serious or continued violations, the LCC Library may contact the LCC Department of
Public Safety or the City of Lansing police for arrest
and prosecution of offenders under appropriate trespass or other
criminal statutes.
Initially
sanction shall be determined by a library employee at the time of
interaction between the employee and the alleged violator. To the
extent necessary the library employee may call upon the LCC Department
of Public Safety for assistance. To the extent feasible the details of
the alleged violation and sanction shall be placed in writing by the
library employee and filed in the Library Department Office and in the
Department of Public Safety. A copy of such writing will be provided to the alleged
violator upon his/her signed written request to either
department.
If the alleged violator is a currently enrolled LCC student, LCC 's Due
Process provisions described in the Lansing Community College Catalog
(refer to "due process " in the catalog index) shall apply. If the alleged violator is not a currently enrolled LCC student, then
those Due Process provisions shall apply to the extent
appropriate.
At
each appeal level the initial sanction or the sanction at the
preceding level may be affirmed, reversed, or modified downward
or upward. Irrespective
of any LCC Library or LCC sanctions, the library and LCC will
cooperate fully with local, state, or federal officials in any
investigation concerning or relating to any unlawful use of or
interaction with the library 's or LCC 's electronic communication
system(s).
Minors
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LCC
is a "higher " academic institution. As such, it has an
adult orientation and the great majority of its users are adults. Some
students are under the legal age of eighteen and occasional users may
be under age eighteen.
State
and federal laws protect minors from exposure to obscene or sexually
explicit materials. These statutes include Michigan Compiled Laws
722.671 et seq.and 750.142 and United States Section 2252.
Monitoring
Internet use by minors is the responsibility of the parents, guardian,
or person with custody and control of the minor. Library staff and LCC
computer network staff do not monitor Internet users. However, if
library staff happen to observe an apparent minor accessing what appears to be obscene material, staff will investigate the situation.
If the access is determined to be a violation of these regulations,
sanctions may be imposed pursuant to these regulations.
Disclaimer
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Access
to the Internet by the LCC Library is provided on an "as is, as
available " basis. The LCC Library and LCC do not make any
warranties, expressed or implied, with respect to any services provided by the system(s)
and any information or software contained therein.
The
LCC Library and LCC do not:
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Warrant that the functions or services performed by or that the information or
software contained on the system(s) will meet the
system(s) user's requirements, or that the system(s) will be uninterrupted or error-free,
or that defects will be corrected.
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Warrant or ensure the accuracy or usability of information found on
the Internet.
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Protect individuals from chance encounters with information or images
which an individual may consider offensive.
-
Warrant
that Internet access software has been protected from tampering.
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Regularly
monitor the computer stations used to access the Internet nor ensure
that such stations afford private viewing.
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Assume
responsibility for user loss of data, user disk damage or other damage
resulting from use of the library 's computer services.
-
Assume
responsibility for any use made by any person or entity of documents
or any part thereof retrieved through library access to the
Internet.
Opinions,
advice, services, and all other information expressed by system(s)
users, information providers, service providers, or other third party
individuals in the system(s) are those of the providers and not of the
LCC Library or LCC.
The
LCC Library will make reasonable attempts to communicate, post, and
generally make these Internet Acceptable Use Regulations available to
the public.
Additional Information
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Access
to the Internet at the LCC Library is in accordance with the LCC
Acceptable Use Policy and the following American Library Association
statements:
Library Bill of Rights
Freedom to Read
Access to Electronic Information, Services and Networks