Our N.E.A.R. Future (Networking Electronic Access Resources):
Today's Shared Technology Builds Tomorrow's Community Access

Maryjeanne Crowe Crawford and Pam Bartusiewicz

How It All Began

The story of our grant, "Our N.E.A.R. Future," actually began nearly two years ago in November 1994, when Illinois State Library Director Bridget Lamont announced a competitive grant in a Nov. 16 letter.

On Dec. 9,1994, the administrator of the Glenwood-Lynwood Public Library District wrote a letter to Brookwood School District 167 district librarian, asking if the school district would be interested in applying for a Title III multi-type library grant focused on building on existing electronic strengths and infrastructure. Specifically, the grant would be used to connect the four school sites and the public library electronically.

When the answer was "yes," plans were made for both to attend a grant-development workshop being offered in mid-December by our regional Suburban Library System. This was particularly valuable because Elmhurst Library Director Marilyn Boria was one of the featured speakers. Boria has served on the Illinois State Library Advisory Committee, which reviews grant applications, and she effectively described what it was like to have 150 grants to read and review!

As soon as public schools returned from their holiday, both librarians met with the school administration and received full support to proceed. Our Letter of Intent was submitted on Jan. 13, 1995.

On Feb. 16, 1995, we were notified that our LSCA Letter of Intent had been reviewed by a subcommittee of the Illinois State Library Advisory Committee and that we were encouraged to develop a full application, due by March 31,1995. Now the work began in earnest!

The Suburban Library System, is one of the strongest and best sources of support a library could have. We consulted with the system's automation staff to decide exactly what equipment and its configuration we should use to network our four school sites with the public library and the SLS.

Our application was due at the Illinois State Library by March 31, 1995, (20 copies!). It had been agreed that Glenwood-Lynwood Public Library District would serve as the project director and maintain financial records; Brookwood School District would serve as the project manager and primary activities location.

On April 27,1995, the project director attended the hearing on LSCA FY96 Title III grant applications held by the Subcommittee for Interlibrary Cooperation at the State Library in Springfield. Now all there was to do was wait...

Program Activities

Grants typically cover a 12-month period, as ours did from July 1, 1995 through June 30, 1996. Despite this, we began our program activities, or at least the preliminary planning for them, earlier than our one-year calendar. (We will be continuing our plans beyond the grant calendar as well!)

Because "Our N.E.A.R. Future" was designed as a multi-type library activity, we knew from the outset the school district, the public library district and the Illinois State Library were all on different time frames—no one "better" or "worse," just differing because each agency has different missions and constituents.

It was clear if the grant was successful, formal notification would take place while the school district was on vacation in the midst of the public library's busy summer reading program and staff vacation schedules. We decided to proceed—cautiously—and

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gather information we would need to proceed as promptly as possible.

In May, two vendors were asked to prepare quotes for the equipment needed to network the sites. The project director and project manager met several times to decide on organizational issues prior to the end of school.

On June 30, 1995, we were notified informally that our project had been recommended for funding. We received our official notification from Secretary of State George H. Ryan on July 21 and by State Library Director Bridget Lament on July 31.

On Monday, Aug. 28, 1995, we kicked off "Our N.E.A.R. Future" year by distributing folders to 126 Brookwood District 167 staff as part of their Teacher Institute Day. At this meeting, we asked for interested staff (not limited to classroom teachers) who wanted to participate in on-line training to contact the project manager, and we received volunteers from every site.

We had met on Aug. 8 with our vendor on-site, and had presented the project for review to the #167 Administrative Council on Aug. 16. The council charged the project's director and manager with developing a "responsible use" policy to be presented to the respective agencies.

We knew that because the school calendar was only nine and a half months long each of our "quarters" was not quite a full quarter for working purposes. Our first quarter activities were principally logistical: getting the actual equipment and telecommunications ordered, installed and working, and conducting the initial public presentations.

On Sept. 11, the two coordinators met with District #167's Technology Committee. At that meeting, Brookwood's building supervisor offered to do the inside line installed at each site as part of the school district's in-kind contribution, and to coordinate phone line installation at each school site.

Also on Sept. 11, the project director and project manager made a presentation at District #167's evening Board of Education meeting. Board members were most positive and complimentary about the grant and its potential for the community.

On Sept. 15, the project director attended a professional meeting focusing on policy issues for electronic on-line resource use. The Acceptable Use for Electronic Resources policy for school policy will be developed and presented first for approval to the Board of Education. The policy for the public library district, which may be broader because it includes adult access, will be developed and reviewed after Christmas.

Dial-access phone lines were installed on Sept. 22 at the schools. The Suburban Library System scheduled the installation of the library's digital line Sept. 21-27 and coordinated connection of an upgraded multiplexor. The multiplexor upgrade was part of SLS- SWAN's lease arrangement for equipment with member libraries and not an equipment cost of the grant.

We presented our grant project and goals to the Longwood Parent Advisory Council on Sept. 28 to 16 members. This was an excellent opportunity to hear comments and questions from community members who have children in school. Each school has an advisory council to which we have asked to speak.

Sept. 29 was an exciting day because we finalized our equipment order and learned that because of continuing competition in computer equipment pricing we were able to get more powerful and additional hardware in our package.

We worked with the art teachers to publicize an art contest for a "slogo," a combination of a text slogan and a graphic. Judges were from the community, and the winners received surprise balloon bouquets in their classrooms. The winners also were honored at the PTA meetings along with their parents.

Installation and final hook-up of our linked technology was done by Oct. 15. Each school site received a Pentium PC with CD-ROM, speakers, and a printer, and the library installed an ISON line and several toggle switches between the schools and the library.

The original grant request had included funding for training, which would have been used for teachers to attend specialized training sessions in various subject areas, as well as for experts to come to the sites and provide workshops. These funds were cut from all grants by the Subcommittee of ISLAC. By late October and early November we began looking for other training resources and choices. With the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays approaching, we decided to schedule training in January.

Several meetings were held to complete development of an Acceptable Use policy. On Nov. 28, Illinois State Library Consultant Amy Kellerstrass made a site visit.

The Brookwood School District also decided to hire library clerks for each site as a result of our grant. This was an exciting development, but meant, the need for staff training became even more critical.

On Dec. 11, the Acceptable Use Policy was presented for first reading at the Board of Education meeting.

Arrangements were made for the new library clerks to receive basic on-line training for SLS-SWAN, from SLS Field Consultant Heidi Bruss. (This training was

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not directly a grant responsibility, because all members of SLS-SWAN are entitled to basic staff training as needed.) They received this training over a two-week period in January, and were able to practice and bring questions and problems to a March follow-up session.

On Jan. 26, staff members attended a special workshop on e-mail and the Internet, arranged at the SLS in their new training room. During this training, logins and passwords for the four new linked sites were established.

On Feb. 9, as a part of our grant process the project director, project manager and superintendent met to review goals and activities. Between the realities of the school calendar and the time needed for equipment installation and staff training, we felt we had made a great deal of progress and yet had barely begun exploring the potential access to resources could provide.

Senior citizens were the audience for a skit at the St. John's Friendly Seniors lunch meeting on Feb. 27. The project manager, project director, school superintendent and Glenwood-Lynwood youth services manager attended.

On March 1, SLS Youth Services Consultant Lois Schultz presented an overview and history of Suburban Library System services to the new library clerks. Throughout the month the upper elementary library clerks worked with magazine abstracts and previewed other CD-ROMS.

Community publicity and outreach were the goals of the spring issue of the Glenwood-Lynwood Public Library District newsletter. It was delivered to more than 7,300 households and featured our grant and its activities, including the art contest awards, in its cover story.

And then... On March 26, while preparing to leave for the Public Library Conference in Portland, Oregon, the program director fell and broke her right arm. The resulting limitations (can't sleep, can't dress, and can't drive) of the next two months meant eight weeks of part-time work on an unpredictable schedule around medical appointments and physical therapy, which had a severe impact on program activities.

Most affected were the development and implementation of the Community Information Council and the planning for the April Cyberspace Conference.

Early in the preliminary activities planning, it was decided that because of poor winter weather our community activities would avoid January-March and be scheduled in the spring.

At the early February review meeting among the project director, project manager, and superintendent, a change of emphasis for the Community Information Council was discussed. The original point of view was that the council would be fairly large and would suggest a community calendar and help plan specific activities.

Now the Village of Glenwood planned to construct a new village center. We discussed having a smaller number of residents work with us to plan a longer-range strategy for developing a community information network. Our first step would be encouraging the new village hall to be wired appropriately from the ground up for future communication network needs.

Instead of a large list of representatives from every organization being asked to participate in activity ...... a smaller list of community decision-makers had been identified in various areas to continue to build on the infrastructure already in place to develop a community information policy strategy. Because of the unexpected limitations on the program director's availability, however, the April meeting could not be scheduled. End of the school year activities precluded a May date.

The "Cyberspace Conference" was no longer possible. Because our grant had never included any additional staffing and was being handled with the project director and project manager's professional time viewed as "in-kind" contribution, there was no way to substitute for the absence of the project director or hire additional help to plan and execute special projects while maintaining our on going responsibilities at the library and school sites.

Site-based activities did continue and build experience in using the shared technology. In April, classes exchanged e-mail messages from building to building in the elementary grades, as teachers found ways to use the technology in their curriculum.

After the library clerk did the preliminary searching and placed bookmarks at various Web sites, the gifted class at the middle school "surfed the Net" as one of their assignments. We, again, noted time is definitely an issue in electronic access.

On May 9,1996, the program director and program manager were co-presenters at a Technology Conference on "Navigating the Superhighway," developed by Governors State University as part of their LincolnNet project. There were approximately 300 attendees at this region-wide conference.

"Navigate the Net" sessions for small groups during the public library site's Summer Reading Club programs were announced in the summer Glenwood- Lynwood newsletter distributed to more than 7,000 households in the library district.

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When we prepared our grant application and outlined our tentative activities by quarter, we knew the combination of a shorter school calendar year and staff and site limitations would be a challenge. Of course, we couldn't have anticipated the additional restrictions of losing April and May almost entirely as a consequence of the project director's accident. We did, however, assume from the outset we would certainly continue our activities and have plenty of room to "grow" into the potential our grant offered.

Our activities will continue. We still believe the Community Information Council is an excellent idea and plan to organize that group this fall.

This fall, the project director and project manager have been invited to give a presentation at the Illinois School Library Media Association conference and are preparing a slide program and appropriate informational handouts.

SLS has installed a graphic interface and library staff will train this fall on their choice of Netscape or Explorer browsers so they can return to their sites and share their training with others. We also will continue to offer small-group instruction at the library to encourage residents of all ages to explore electronic access to information.

Program Accomplishments

Our most basic goal was to network the four school sites with the public library electronically, thus providing access through shared technological infrastructure into Suburban Library System and its automated database. (SWAN), additional databases loaded at SWAN and access to the Internet. This goal was accomplished cooperatively with an absolute minimum of difficulty, thanks to clear, experienced communication between SLS, our vendor and congenial relationships between the school district and the library district. It was planned as a multitype library project and communication went smoothly.

Staff training was another goal. Within the limitations of time, staff availability and cost we established a good foundation. Staff members were trained on e-mail, Internet browsing and the use of both on-line and CD-ROM databases. (Because our request for training funds was not accepted in the grant application, we used our local regional library agency when possible.)

A completely unexpected turn of events was the increase in staffing! We would never have predicted at the beginning of the grant that the school district would feel so strongly about information access. They made a commitment to provide a full-time staff person at each site to take advantage of the technology and its potential. When we began, only one school had a full-time library clerk, but by mid-year each school had one. The school district has made the same commitment for 1996-97, no small accomplishment in these days of tight funding.

Another accomplishment was public awareness of libraries of all types as the first source for information access. Throughout the year we spoke at any place and time we could find an audience, stressing multi-type library cooperation as the best use of taxpayer dollars for capital investment. We gave presentations to parents and senior citizens and at professional and technology meetings. Appropriate policy development was another goal accomplished. Although the library district had a computer use policy for several years, it did not address responsibilities or content at all, and the school district had not yet developed a policy.

An Anthology of Internet Acceptable Use Policies, an excellent collection of policies from various schools from the National Association of Regional Media Centers, is recommended as a resource. The cost of the manual is $20. Checks should be made out to NARMC:

Donald Whitemarsh
Area Educational Agency 4
1382 Fourth Avenue, N.E.
Sioux Center, IA 51250

Program Director Changes

There was only one program "change" of direction in our plans—the strategic direction of the Community Information Council. Initially, this group was seen as being composed of as many representatives of community groups as were willing to participate, who would develop suggestions for specific community activities.

In mid-year, when it was learned the Village of Glenwood planned to build a new village hall, we realized we could further define the Community Information Council's purpose. The village hall could and should be included in our long-range electronic networking plans. Now the council, a smaller group than originally planned, may focus more on policy advice as it tries to determine: What are the long-range community information needs for our residents? How can we further build on the existing electronic infrastructure now that the schools and public library are already linked?

During this grant year, that change of direction became moot when the project director was physically unable to complete the planning and organizational meeting of the Community Information Council. However, we plan to initiate the council in Fall 1996.

The limitations of the grant program itself were the shorter school-year calendar and its consequent time

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limitations. Another restriction was that Internet access was initially only text-based (Lynx) until SLS, our Internet provider, was able to develop and install its own firewalls and then get its GUI interface and graphical browsers up and running.

The program director and program manager were aware of this applications limit, but time constraints on students, staff and sites slowed experience down enough to not become a significant issue during the grant year. Now that graphical access is in place and the initial training is accomplished, we expect this limitation to dissolve during this coming year.

Project strengths and weaknesses

Both the Glenwood-Public Library District and Brookwood School District #167 had an excellent working relationship before the grant was awarded. Working together in the planning, implementation, record-keeping and activities of "Our N.E.A.R. Future," however, strengthened and reinforced the excellent multi-type library cooperation already in place.

An ongoing commitment to using technology as wisely and creatively as possible was also a strength. Since both agencies have physical limitations onsite and relatively small staff, they continue to be interested in remaining current with technological advances to bypass these boundaries.

Extensive technological, budgeting, and training expertise from Suburban Library System, was definitely a project strength. From the initial planning, grant writing, automation scheduling and installation, equipment trouble-shooting, and subsequent training, many different SLS staff members patiently answered our questions. Neither the project director/coordinator nor the project manager believe the grant accomplishments could have been achieved without the always helpful resources of SLS and SWAN.

Another project strength was our decision to obtain equipment from an experienced local vendor who understands and focuses on library projects. We did not confuse ourselves or waste any extra time trying to explain our project and obtain quotes from every known computer/library automation source. Since our grant did not include any additional staffing, conservation of staff project time was important.

Community support was an additional project strength. While not everyone in our communities is technologically active, we received many compliments and much appreciation from all ages for moving ahead and trying to be pro-active in providing greater access to information.

Time was our greatest weakness at absolutely every level in the grant; but that limitation was not a surprise. Since we had not requested additional staffing, we knew from the outset that grant management would be in addition to the project director and project manager's daily responsibilities.

What we had not anticipated was how greatly time limitations for teachers and students would affect their availability for program activities. A combination of already crowded curriculum content teachers are responsible to cover and the time needed to actually use electronic technology by beginning (inexperienced) student searchers proved much more limiting than we estimated.

At the public library site we found the same true with our adult and summer users. For library-experienced users, as the grant managers are, it is almost impossible to under-estimate how much time it takes for new users to become familiar and comfortable with electronic access processes.

In short — it takes time! But from the beginning we believed this would be a long-term investment for our community and our users, and we would only begin to use the potential in our initial year.

Project Evaluation

As the original grant application for "Our N.E.A.R. Future" stated, we had no baseline data of any kind against which to measure or evaluate against any "hard" (quantifiable) data.

We distributed questionnaires to nearly 1,200 students asking about computer accessibility, on-line access, and computer use and experience. We will redistribute the same questionnaire in October to see what changes may have occurred during our grant year. Although the survey cannot be completely accurate, due to unreturned surveys, household relocations, students no longer in district, etc., we will at least have some indication of change (if any).

We were able to measure in quantifiable form the increase in materials requested with access now available at each site to SLS-SWAN and other electronic databases. That documentation is attached.

We plan to continue use of "Our N.E.A.R. Future" as a theme in multi-type library cooperation and projects this coming year and to measure and evaluate activities through 1996-97.

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BROOKWOOD SCHOOL DISTRICT 167 INTERLIBRARY LOAN 1995-1996

	EASY BOOK	NONFICTION	FICTION	CD-ROM**
LONGWOOD	21	31	3	0
HICKORY BEND	59	201	57	0
HICKORY BEND	0	143	181	0
JUNIOR HIGH	0	103	11	56
SUBTOTAL PER CLASSIFICATION	80	478	252	56
*******	*****	* * * *	* * * *	* * * *
TOTAL 1ST SEMESTER PRE-GRANT	634
TOTAL 2ND SEMESTER WITH GRANT	866
TOTAL MATERIALS BORROWED (95-96)	1500
TOTAL MATERIALS BORROWED (94-95)@@	580
INCREASE OF BORROWED MATERIALS	2.58

**TO DATE, AUDIO CD-ROMS ARE ONLY BORROWED BY THE MUSIC DEPARTMENT OF THE JUNIOR HIGH. @@THESE INTERLIBRARY LOAN ORDERS WERE PLACED BY THE JUNIOR HIGH LIBRARY CLERK WITH THE USE OF AN ALLY GRANT SUPPLIED COMPUTER.

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Resources for "Our N.E.A.R. Future"

Acceptable Use Policies

An Anthology of Internet Acceptable Use Policies. Peter G. Finney

compiler. Ann Arbor, Michigan: National Association of Regional Media Centers, 1995. A collection of samples of acceptable use policies from various schools across the country. User guidelines, parental permission form and code of ethics are just a few of the many types of policies included.

Palgi, Rebecca A. "Rules of the Road: Why You Need an Acceptable Use Policy." School Library Journal. August, 1996, pp. 32-33.

Articles provide definitions of the four primary components of acceptable use policies, Web sites of four school acceptable use policies and an excellent list of resources for further information.

Willett, Steve. "Acceptable Use Policy: Creating One for Your District." An Educator's Guide to the Internet in the Classroom, A supplement to T.H.E. Journal, 1996, pp. 36-37. Helpful hints are provided on writing acceptable use policies. Also furnished is an actual acceptable use policy.

Future Networking

Beatty, Don. "Home Sweet Home Page: Creating Your School's Online Welcome Mat." Creative Classroom. August, 1996, pp. 72-73.

A brief explanation of what a home page is on the Internet and provides available sources you can consult in developing your school's own home page.

Trotter, Andrew. "Reassert Your Relevance: High Tech Schools Connect with Main Street." Electronic School.

September, 1995, pp. A12-A16. The possibilities are endless when schools network with their communities. Possible communications could be: parents learning of a sick child's assignments, sending an opinion on a particular agenda item to the school board president and consulting a job bank for possible employment opportunities.

Future Networking (continued)

Vandergrift, Kay E. "Build a Web Site with a Brain." School Library Journal, April, 1996, pp. 26-29. Encourages school and public librarians to construct their own home page together to foster cooperation and communication. Includes practical and thoughtful insights into making a home page a worthwhile endeavor and a good source of information.

Grant Writing

Bayley, Linda. "Grant Me This: How to Write a Winning Grant Proposal." School Library Journal. September, 1995, pp.126-128. Author provides helpful and practical tips on writing grants.

Internet

Dyrli, Odvard Egil. "Riding the Internet Schoolbus: Places to Visit and Things to Do." Technology and Learning. October, 1994, pp. 32-39+.

Includes a sampling of activities, projects and resource hot spots to get you surfing the Net; also lists contacts for teachers and a directory for finding key pals.

Hixson, Susan W. "It's Elementary! Internet in a K-5 School." Multimedia School. March/April, 1995, pp. 40-47+. Explains how the Carminati Elementary School (K-5) obtained technology for their students. Gives a grade by grade list of Internet projects undertaken by Carminati School Students.

Jacobsen, Frances F. "Road Scholar: A School Librarian Sets Out in Search of High Tech Success." School Library

Journal, November, 1995, pp. 20-23.

While on sabbatical, the author visited 11 high tech schools across the country to investigate the correlation of technology and the Internet in the schools and their media centers. Author concluded it is very important for school media centers be involved in Internet and computer technology and to play an important role in nurturing its use.

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Johnson, Doug. "Student Access to Internet: Librarians and Teachers Working Together to Teach Higher Level Survival Skills." Emergency Librarian. January-February. 1995, pp. 8-10,

Discusses the teamwork needed between teachers and librarians when students use the Internet. Author stresses the need for user guidelines as well as teaching "netiquette." The Mankato Internet Skills Rubrics is included.

Mondowney, JoAnn G. "Licensed to Learn: Drivers Training for the Internet." School Library Journal. January, 1996, pp. 32-34.

Outlines the project, A Whole New World, training underprivileged children how to travel the information super highway. Everything from volunteers to individual training sessions to their handbook is discussed.

Symons, Ann. "Intelligent Life on the Web and How to Find: http//the thinking librarian's, web.guide/ part 1."

School Library Journal. March, 1996, pp. 106-110.

This school librarian highly encourages every school library to use the Internet as a research tool. This article will convince you to use the Internet with your students.

Listservs

Beatty, Don. "No time to Talk? E-mail brings Worldwide Collaboration." Creative Classroom. August, 1996, pp. 69-70.

Article furnishes helpful advise on using LISTSERVS to promote a sharing of ideas and projects through the use of e-mail. A list of available LISTSERVS is provided.

Eisenberg, Michael and Peter Milbury. "LM_NET: Where Media Specialists Meet in Cyberspace." School Library

Journal. November. 1994. pp. 31-33.

Explains the importance of using the LISTSERVS, LM_NET which is specifically designed for the school media specialists. No longer do school media specialists have to practice their trade in isolation. LM_NET provides school media specialists the opportunities to consult with colleagues around the world. Sample interactions are included.

Safety on the Internet

McGillian, Jamie Kyle. "Cyber Patrol: How Can We Make Sure Our Young Techies Stay Safe?" Creative Classroom. May/June, 1996, pp. 69-70.

Stresses the involvement of parents and teachers while students use the Internet. A purpose for students to be on the Net is emphasized. Provides a list of fun and educational web sites as well as a list of appropriate rules.

Child Safety on the Information Highway. National Center for Missing & Exploited Children: U.S. Department of Justice. 1994. Informative brochure that lists the benefits as well as the risks involved in children using the information super highway. Guidelines are provided on how to direct children in the proper, safe use of the Internet. (http://www.4j.lane.edu/InternetResources/Safety/Safety.html.)

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Dear Parent/Guardian:

Brookwood School District 167 is now offering its students the wonderful opportunity to participate in electronic learning via the Internet and electronic mail. This technology will greatly expand upon the resources of your student's school library. This educational tool will bring new excitement to the student's learning.

Your child will be able to communicate with experts in various fields through electronic mail and the Internet. Electronic mail is the sending and receiving of messages through the use of a computer. The Internet is a network of information available through the use of a computer. The Internet allows your child the opportunity to reach out to many other people, share information, learn new concepts, etc. Your child may be communicating with other students and/or adults from around the world. When students are accessing the Internet, they will be supervised.

While using this exciting and limitless tool, we must be prudent in our actions. We must use this new tool wisely and efficiently. Therefore, it is very important that messages sent over electronic mail be written appropriately. Messages sent via electronic mail can be read by anyone. Therefore, the messages should not contain profanity, obscene comments, sexually explicit material, expressions of bigotry, racism, or hate. Also, they should not contain personal information that you would not want any stranger to have such as your name, address, or phone number.

With this educational opportunity also comes responsibility. It is important that you and your child read the Ethics Code and discuss it. When your child is allowed to use the computer, it is extremely important that the rules are followed. Inappropriate behavior may result in the loss of the privilege to use this educational tool. Parents, remember that you are legally and financially responsible for your child's actions. Please stress to your child the importance of using only his or her own password and the importance of keeping it a secret from other students.

Please take the time to sit down with your child to read and discuss the Rules and Code of Ethics for Brookwood School District 167 Computer Users. It is your decision if you wish your child to use the Internet. Please sign the Code of Ethics if you grant or deny your permission. Please sign and return the attached statement to us as soon as possible. We need your signature before any access is granted.

Sincerely,

Pam Bartusiewicz
District Librarian

201 Glenwood-Dyer Road Glenwood, IL 60425-1897 Phone:708-758-5190 Fax#: 708-757-2104

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ACCEPTABLE USE GUIDELINES COMPUTER AND ON-LINE RESOURCES

You are expected to abide by generally accepted rules of electronic resources etiquette. Responsible use includes, but is not limited solely to:

1. Courtesy. Be polite; do not get abusive in your messages to others.

2. Use appropriate language. Do not swear, use vulgarities, or any other inappropriate language.

3. Illegal activities are strictly forbidden.

4. Do not reveal your personal address or phone number.

5. Electronic mail (e-mail) is not guaranteed to be private. People who operate the systems have access to all mail, and messages relating to, or in support of, illegal activities may be reported to the appropriate authorities.

6. All communications and information accessible via any network and/or database should be assumed to be private property.

Unacceptable use includes, but is not limited solely to:

1. Violating the rights of others, including privacy.

2. Using or posting profanity, obscenity, or language which may be offensive to another user.

3. Reposting personal communications without the author's prior knowledge or consent.

4. Copying software in violation of copyright law.

5. Using electronic access resource services for financial gain or for any commercial or illegal activity.

6. Deliberate attempts to degrade or disrupt service performance. Such attempts will be viewed as criminal activity under applicable state and federal law.

7. Spreading computer viruses. Always check downloaded files.

Vandalism is defined as any malicious attempt to harm or destroy data of another user, agency, or network, including the Internet, connected to electronic access of resources. This includes, but is not limited to, the creation or uploading of viruses. Vandalism will result in cancellation of privileges.

Security on any computer system is a high priority, especially when it involves may users. If a user feels s/he can identify a security problem, the user should notify a library staff member. Any user identified as a security risk, or having a history of problems with other computer systems, may be denied access.

The Glenwood-Lynwood Public Library makes no warranties of any kind for the service it is providing and will not be responsible for any damages, including loss of data resulting from delays, non-deliveries, or service interruptions due to user's negligence, errors, or omissions.

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ACCEPTABLE USE POLICY COMPUTER AND ON-LINE RESOURCES

Electronic access to resources is available to patrons who are residents of Glenwood-Lynwood Public Library District, including on-line and Internet access arrangements.

The Internet is an electronic connection among thousands of computers all over the world and millions of individual participants. Patrons have access to materials which may include:

• print and non-print items from Suburban Library System libraries as well as databases such as magazine abstracts, electronic mail and the Internet;

• public domain software and shareware of all types;

• discussion groups on a wide range of topics;

• access to many academic library catalogs, the library of Congress, and ERIC.

Access to Internet is coordinated through a complex association of government agencies, regional and state networks, and other participants. The smooth operation of this service relies upon the proper conduct of end users, who must adhere to strict guidelines. In general, this requires efficient, ethical, and legal utilization of these resources.

As with any collection, Internet content varies over time. On a global network it is impossible to control all materials and users may discover controversial information. We believe access to valuable information and interaction through this worldwide network far outweigh occasional controversy.

The use of computer and on-line resources, including the Internet, is a privilege and not a right. If a Glenwood-Lynwood Public Library District user engages in any inappropriate use, access could be withdrawn.

*Maryjeanne Crowe Crawford, Administrative Librarian, Glenwood-Lynwood Public Library District, Glenwood and Pam Bartusiewicz, District Librarian, Brookwood School District No. 167, Glenwood.

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