Our Mission:

Nurturing the life of the mind by encouraging the community to enter, read, look, listen, and learn. In pursuit of this mission, goals for the Rangeley Public Library are to serve as a popular materials library, a child's door to learning, an education support center, and a life-long learning center.

We support the Library Bill of Rights and the Freedom to Read Act.

Use of Computers and the Internet

Fifteen public computers are available for Internet use. Children under 12 MUST have a parent with them.

Purpose: The Rangeley Public Library is committed to providing Rangeley area residents and visitors of all ages and backgrounds with the best educational and informational resources. These include internet access. Parents or guardians, NOT THE LIBRARY, are responsible for internet information accessed by their children. Parents, as well as other patrons, need to be good information consumers. However, it is the policy of Rangeley Public Library to: (a) prevent user access over its computer network to, or transmission of, inappropriate material via internet, electronic mail, or other forms of direct electronic communications; (b) prevent unauthorized access and other unlawful online activity; (c) prevent unauthorized online disclosure, use or dissemination of personal identification information of minors; and (d) comply with the Children’s Internet Protection Act.

Access to Inappropriate Material: To the extent practical, technology protection measures (or “Internet filters”) shall be used to block or filter internet, or other forms of electronic communications, access to inappropriate information. Specifically, as required by the Children’s Internet Protection Act, blocking shall be applied to visual depictions of material deemed obscene or child pornography, or to any material deemed harmful to minors. Subject to staff supervision, technology protection measures may be disabled for adults or, in the case of minors, minimized only for bona fide research or other lawful purposes.

Inappropriate Network Usage: To the extent practical, steps shall be taken to promote the safety and security of users of the Rangeley Public Library online computer network when using electronic mail, chat rooms, instant messaging, and other forms of direct electronic communications. Specifically, as required by the Children’s Internet Protection Act, prevention of inappropriate network usage includes: (a) unauthorized access, including so-called ‘hacking’, and other unlawful activities; and (b) unauthorized disclosure, use, and dissemination of personal identification information regarding minors.

Education, Supervision and Monitoring: It shall be the responsibility of all members of the Rangeley Public Library staff to educate, supervise and monitor appropriate usage of the online computer network and access to the internet in accordance with this policy, the Children’s Internet Protection Act, the Neighborhood Children’s Internet Protection Act, and the Protecting Children in the 21st Century Act. Procedures for the disabling or otherwise modifying of any technology protection measures shall be the responsibility of the director or designated representatives.

The Library Bill of Rights, the Freedom to Read Statement, and the Freedom to View Statement shall apply to all electronically transmitted materials. Persons using the computers in the Rangeley Public Library shall not engage in conduct that interferes with another person’s use and enjoyment of the library. Rangeley Public Library has adopted an Acceptable Use Policy regarding internet use. The policy is posted by the public access computers.

Users’ Responsibilities:

• Supervising Children: In spite of the library’s internet filtering system, some allowable material may not be appropriate for all children. It is the library’s policy that parents or guardians are responsible for deciding which library resources are appropriate for their children. Parents may feel some material is inappropriate for children, and should supervise their children’s internet sessions. Children’s Room computers are not connected to the internet.
• Choosing and Evaluating Sources: The internet is a global entity with a highly diverse user population and widely diverse content. Library patrons use it at their own risk. As with printed material, not all sources on the internet provide accurate, complete, or current information. Users need to evaluate internet sources just as they do printed publications, critically evaluating the validity of content.
• Laptops: Patrons may plug their laptops into our electrical power source or access the internet wirelessly.

Acceptable Use Policy:

1. Patrons/Visitors must sign a log for each use session, by doing so they agree to follow the Library’s Computer Use Policy posted by the public access computers.
2. Computer sessions are limited to a half-hour, but can be extended at the discretion of library staff if another patron is not waiting.
3. Use discretion in printing. Check with staff for current fee per page.
4. A maximum of 2 people may use a single computer at one time.
5. The user is responsible for any and all damage to the library computer and peripherals. Fees will be based on repair/replacement costs.
6. The user is responsible for obeying all laws pertaining to copyrighted and protected materials.
7. Be aware that not all information on the internet is accurate. Neither the Rangeley Public Library nor its staff is liable for negative consequences that might result from using the library’s internet connection.
8. Computers may be used for legal purposes only and may result in suspension of privileges.
9. The library reserves the right to modify its policies at any time