Madera County Internet Policy

In compliance with a directive from the Madera County Board of Supervisors, a federal law called the Children's Internet Protection Act, and the "Harmful to Minors Statute (California Penal Code 313-313.5), the library is using commercial filtering software to blocks certain Internet sites. The library will continue to filter the Internet until instructed by the authorities to do otherwise.

Madera County Library blocks the following categories:

• Destructive
    Criminal activity
    Hacking
    Illegal drugs
    Intolerance and hate
    Phishing and fraud
    Tasteless and offensive material
    Terrorism
    Violence
    Weapons
    Spam
• Sexual
    Adult content
    Intimate apparel & swimsuit
    Pornography
• Gaming
    Gambling
    Game media
    Game playing
• Commerce
    Advertisements & Pop-ups
• Communication & Technology
    Chat
    Proxies
    Social networking
    Spyware
• Leisure
    Alcohol & tobacco
    Personals & dating

Filtering software does not always work predictably. Sites containing objectionable material may be encountered accidentally. Legitimate sites may be unintentionally blocked. Filtering software is intended to eliminate electronic material the library would never obtain in print. Internet filters are imperfect. They may block some constitutionally protected material, and they may fail to block some unlawful materials. A 2003 U.S. Supreme Court decision authorizes disabling of the filter for lawful use by adults. Adults 18 years and older may request Library staff to disable the filter for lawful purposes at a specific workstation for a specific session of use. However, no access will be granted to sites rated by the filter as spyware, malware, adware, or the like, because they have the potential to harm the Library’s network and/or individual workstations and disrupt the Library’s ability to provide service to its users. Phishing sites are blocked because of their deceptive collection of personal information. Please tell Library staff if you believe a site has been rated incorrectly.

Chat lines, while appearing to be an innocent form of communication, have been used by predatory adults to lure unsuspecting youths into compromising and life-threatening situations. Every effort will be made to educate children and their parents in the safe use of electronic communication. Please visit our section on Children and Internet Safety.

Intentionally viewing child pornography using the Library’s resources is a criminal act and will be treated as such. All computer screens are within full view the general public. If the nature of the content being viewed disturbs other patrons, the viewer will be asked to cease.

Internet Users who use the library’s computers to break the law will have their Internet account permanently closed.

30 May 2002
County Librarian
County Counsel
Board of Supervisors