Massasoit - Policies & Statements

Internet Policy

Access to the Internet has been provided to staff and students for the benefit of the College and students. It allows access to information resources and databases around the world. Everyone using the Internet from the College represents the College while on the Internet. To ensure that the Internet is used in a responsible and productive manner, the following guidelines have been established for using the Internet.

Acceptable Uses of the Internet

The College’s Web Site, Server, and all other related computer equipment and services may be used only for academic, educational, or professional purposes which are directly related to official College business and in support of the College’s mission. Students may use the Internet to research information or download files to be used in reports or presentations for class work. Students may use available lab systems to access their e-mail or chatrooms on a space available basis. Students that need to access files or applications on the College network will be given preference to use of the lab computers.

Staff may use the Internet in the course of their daily activities to access resources of the Commonwealth or research information to be used in the performance of their position. Databases may be accessed for information as needed and e-mail used for business contacts.

Unacceptable Use of the Internet

The Internet shall not be used for personal gain or advancement of individual views. This includes advertising for a personal non-college related business or sending e-mail to people to convince them of your opinion of a particular topic. In this case, the user should obtain an account from an Internet Service Provider (ISP) at their expense. Pursuant to Massachusetts Campaign Finance Laws, no governmental resources (including computers, fax machines, modems, printers, and/or copy machines) may be used by any person (including a public employee, whether during work hours or otherwise) in order to promote or oppose a political candidate or ballot question or for the purpose of disseminating materials that advocate a particular vote on a ballot question or a political candidate. Further, in addition to a prohibition of any type of political fundraising on State property, a public employee is further prohibited from soliciting or receiving, directly or indirectly, any contribution for any political purpose.

The Internet shall not be used to prevent others from being productive or disrupt the operation of the College networks. This encompasses e-mail spanning, sending harassing or threatening e-mail, or sending messages under an assumed name. Harassment of any kind is prohibited. No member of the community, under any circumstance, may use the College’s computers or networks to libel, slander, or harass any other person. The following shall constitute computer harassment: (1) using the computer to annoy, harass, terrify, intimidate, threaten, offend or bother another person by conveying obscene language, pictures, or other materials, or threats of bodily harm to the recipient or the recipient’s immediate family; (2) using the computer to contact another person repeatedly with the intent to annoy, harass, or bother, whether or not any actual message is communicated, and/or where no purpose of legitimate communication exists, and where the recipient has expressed a desire for the communication to cease; (3) using the computer to contact another person repeatedly regarding a matter for which one does not have a legal right to communicate, once the recipient has provided reasonable notice that he or she desires such communication to cease; (4) using the computer, to disrupt or damage the academic research, administrative, or related pursuits of another; and (5) using the computer to invade the privacy, academic or otherwise, of another or the threatened invasion of privacy of another.

Any malicious or illegal activity will not be tolerated. The College retains the right to notify the proper officials of any wrongdoings. A user may not access, download, store, or transmit child pornographic materials or obscene materials.

Downloading Software

To prevent computer viruses from being transmitted through the college network, users should exercise caution, have the latest virus protection software loaded on their system, and download files and programs to only one directory. The directory should have a virus check performed before opening or attaching the downloaded material. Scan the file/object and, if a virus is detected, take action to prevent replication of the virus. Repair the contents of the file whenever possible. If you received a virus-infected file, notify Internet site or user that he/she has a virus. Call Information Services at x 1139 if assistance is needed.

Copyright Issues

Copyrighted material may not be used without the permission of the creator. This means you cannot send it through e-mail or post on a web site. One copy of copyrighted material may be downloaded for your personal use in academic or professional research. Users are not permitted to copy, transfer, rename, add or delete information or programs belonging to other users unless given the express permission to do so by the creator.

Pursuant to the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (Public Law: 105-304) 17 U.S.C. 1203 (I)(1)(A), which was enacted into law on October 28, 1998, any user of the College’s computer system network who engages in copyright infringement shall have his/her access privileges terminated.

Security

Users are solely responsible for all materials viewed, stored, or transmitted by way of the College’s computer system. The College expects, however, that users will comply with all College rules and State and Federal laws related to Internet use. Failure to do so may result in the suspension or revocation of a user’s access privileges. Further, users should have no expectation of privacy over e-mail transmissions, and the College reserves the right to access e-mail accounts for routine system maintenance, technical problems or criminal investigations.

Violations

Violations of any guidelines listed above may result in disciplinary actions up to and including termination. If necessary, the college will advise appropriate legal officials of any violations.

Any user who violates this policy will be subject to disciplinary action. Further, inappropriate use, whether intentional or not, may result in civil and/or criminal liability, and/or a violation of the Electronic Communication Privacy Act of 1986, the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, Massachusetts wiretap and/or Privacy Laws, defamation, copyright and/or trademark infringement laws and/or sexual harassment or discrimination laws.

Specific Laboratory Use Policies

The General Use Policies are designed for all faculty, staff, administrators, and students in most working or learning areas. However, specific laboratories, the Library, and work areas will need to develop policies specific to their unique environment.

Library Internet Acceptable Use Policy

The Massasoit Community College Library aims to develop collections, resources, and services that meet the educational, informational, cultural, and recreational needs of Massasoit’s diverse community. In response to these goals, the advances in technology, and the changing needs of the community, the Massasoit Library provides access to the Internet as a library reference tool.

The Internet is a worldwide network of computers which provides access to a wide range of materials for educational, recreational, and reference use. The Massasoit Library does not control the content of the information that resides on the Internet, nor is there an outside central control over its use or content. The Massasoit Library does not use filtering software to block access to information resources and cannot protect its users from information or graphic images that they may find offensive.

Internet access for research purposes is provided equally to all library users, regardless of age. Parents or guardians, not the library or its staff, are responsible for the Internet information accessed by their children. Parents -- and only parents -- may restrict their children -- and only their children -- from accessing Internet resources. We suggest that parents, concerned about the types of materials available on the Internet, supervise their children as they explore Internet sites and help them select resources consistent with their family's values. Massasoit can only be held accountable for information that appears on the World Wide Web pages produced by the library. These are identifiable by the “Massasoit Logo” that appears on all of Massasoit’s pages.

Like other information resources, not all sources on the Internet provide accurate, complete, or current information. Users need to be good information consumers, questioning and evaluating the validity of information that they find.

Responsibilities of Massasoit Community College Library As a Provider of Internet Access The Library shall:

provide each user with a copy of the “Massasoit Community College Library Internet Acceptable Use Policy”

require each user to read and sign the “Massasoit Community College Library Internet Acceptable Use Policy”-- in the case of a minor a parent/guardian must sign as well as the minor

inform its users of the Internet resources available to them through Massasoit

provide basic instruction for how to access these resources and the World Wide Web, but users must understand that Internet-trained staff may not always be present to assist with their needs

develop websites and other guides to Internet resources of particular usefulness and interest to the community

The Library shall not:

provide e-mail accounts for users

allow downloading to hard drive

reveal information about an individual's use of its computer resources unless compelled to do so by a court order

Libraries rely on the cooperation of their users in order to efficiently and effectively provide shared resources. Massasoit 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 offensive and harassing sounds and visuals. We ask all our library 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 and needs.

Responsibilities of Massasoit Community College Library’s Users of Internet Resources

Users shall:

read and sign a copy of the “Massasoit Community College Library Internet Acceptable Use Policy”

surrender their ID/Library card while using the computers

recognize and respect the diversity of the population and opinion in the community

respect and value the rights of privacy and the interests of others

have the right to access materials of their choosing within the limits set forth in

this document

respect the copyrights of the owners of all software and data they use

provide appropriate citations for documents and other information when used for a research paper or for other academic assignments

be responsible for using the facilities and services in an effective, ethical and lawful manner

have access to printers whenever possible

limit their time on Internet computers when others are waiting

have access to their own email accounts

be able to set up email accounts through Internet free email sites

have access to word processing

Users shall not:

reboot (shut down) the computer/system

alter system, software, or the desktop

attempt unauthorized entry into the library's network or to any other computer network or system

copy software

destroy or remove software

use the library’s facilities and resources for unauthorized purposes, including unauthorized commercial purposes

connect unauthorized equipment to the library system

deliberately waste/overload computing resources, such as printing multiple copies of a document

display, access, or transmit obscene or child pornographic materials

When informed of any violations to this policy, Massasoit will enforce the rules and responsibilities outlined above, and the violator’s rights to use library based Internet will be suspended for a specified time, depending on the damage caused by their actions. He/She will be notified of the length of and reason for his/her suspension. Any individual using library computing resources for illegal purposes may also be subject to prosecution.

Access to the Internet is compatible with The Massasoit Library Staff’s endorsement of the following professional standards:

The EDUCOM “Bill of Rights and Responsibilities for Electronic Learners”

The AAUP “Joint Statement on Rights and Freedoms of Students”

ALA “Library Bill of Rights”

ALA “Freedom to Read”

ALA “Code of Ethics”

ALA “Freedom to View”

ALA “Access to Electronic Information, Services and Networks: An Interpretation of the Library Bill of Rights”

ALA “Access to Library Resources and Services Regardless of Gender or Sexual Orientation: An Interpretation of the Library Bill of Rights”

These policies are available at the Circulation Desk and are accessible through the “Massasoit Community College Library Home Page.” If you have any questions about this Internet Acceptable Use Policy, or any of the library's policies, please speak to a librarian.

Last Update: February 10, 2009

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