Ventura County Library Policies

VCL Policies
Computer, Internet wireless access policy
Internet Filtering Policy
Rules of Library Behavior
Website Linking Policy
Donated Materials Policy

 Ventura County Library computer, Internet and wireless access policy

The Ventura County Library (VCL) values intellectual freedom. The Internet offers legitimate, helpful, and educational information. The Internet may contain material of a controversial nature. However, the Library cannot control the Internet or its contents. VCL neither censors adult access to material nor protects adult users from information that they find offensive. 

Privacy: Patrons may be required to use their library barcodes to access the public computers. The Library does not keep records of patrons’ Internet use or computing information; the library gathers statistical information only on use of public computers. Privacy screens are available for patron security and confidentiality.

Internet Safety: Parents and guardians of minors 17 and under are responsible for their child’s use of the Internet at the library. The Library offers filtered Internet access for minors. Filtered Internet access is software that attempts to block sites that parents typically find objectionable for minors.

  • No filtering software package is 100% effective. The Library cannot and does not guarantee that the filtering software will block all objectionable material
  • Minors are provided filtered access to Internet computers. The library staff may request identification for age verification. Individuals without appropriate identification will be restricted to a filtered computer for access.
  • While the Library’s filtering software does block chat, email accounts are not blocked which may raise safety and security concerns
  • Unfiltered Internet access is available to minors if the parent/guardian has signed a permission form.
  • For a listing of filtered categories, please see our filtering policy.

Responsibilities of Computer users: The library environment is a public facility and used by individuals of all ages. Disruptive behavior or failure to comply with VCL policy or library staff directions may result in loss of Internet privileges, expulsion from the library, or prosecution under local, state, or federal laws. The library is not responsible for loss or corruption of data, including theft of personal information or damage to personal electronic devices.

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Computer users must also follow the posted Rules of Library Behavior and

  • be respectful of others when viewing sites that others may find objectionable
  • be respectful of others by keeping volume low when using headphones so as not to disrupt fellow library users
  • be protective of personal information that is sent via the Internet

Wireless Internet Access: Ventura County Library provides wireless Internet access at selected libraries.

  • Wireless network instructions are provided at the library’s main desk
  • Library staff cannot provide technical assistance
  • Wireless computer users must use their own wireless-capable devices to access the Internet
  • Computer users of the wireless network use the service at their own risk
  • Power cords strung across aisles are a safety hazard and are not allowed
  • There is no printing available from the wireless network

Copyright and Software License: The copyright laws of the United States (Title 17, US Code) prohibit the unauthorized reproduction or distribution of copyrighted materials, including software duplication, except as permitted by principles of fair use. The person making the copy is liable for any copyright infringement.

Illegal and Unacceptable Uses: Unacceptable uses include but are not limited to:

  • Criminal activities that violate federal, CA or local laws including fraud, and child pornography
  • Sending unsolicited emails (spamming), unauthorized access to networks (hacking), or attempting to gather personal information (phishing)
  • Damaging equipment, belonging to VCL including computer privacy screens
  • Installing and or using unapproved software on library computers
  • Degrading performance or disrupting network users

Computers are shut down ~ ten minutes before library closing time.

Ventura County Library - COMPUTER, INTERNET, and WIRELESS ACCESS POLICY - 6/2006

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 Internet Filtering Policy

To filter Internet access for minors, Ventura County Library uses commercial web filtering products WebBalanced and Barracuda Technologies. Every effort is made to filter exposure to obscene materials, however, no filtering software package is 100% effective.

The automatically updated filtering lists are:

  • Criminal Activity
  • Hacking
  • Intolerance & Hate
  • Phishing & Fraud 
  • Terrorism
  • Violence
  • Adult material
  • Intimate Apparel
  • Pornography
  • Gambling 
  • Advertisements & Pop-Ups
  • Finance & Banking Services
  • Chat
  • Proxies
  • Peer-to-Peer File Sharing
  • Spyware

Ventura County Library provides unfiltered access to minors with a parent's or guardian's permission. See library staff to obtain unfiltered access.

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 Rules Of Library Behavior

 The library is a public place, and we ask our visitors to respect others by abiding by the following rules:

  • Shoes are required for safety and health.
  • Smoking or use of tobacco products or alcohol is not allowed in library buildings or attached patio areas.
  • Bicycles must be parked and locked in designated areas.
  • Rollerblades, skateboards, and roller skates may not be used in library entryways or walkways.
  • Animals are not allowed in the library, except those needed to assist disabled people.
  • Large shopping carts are not allowed in the library.
  • Use of library restrooms for bathing or doing laundry is not permitted.
  • Food and beverages must be consumed outside the library.
  • Behavior must not disrupt other people's use of the library.
  • Soliciting on library property is not allowed.
  • If the library security system is triggered, customers may be asked to open their parcels and/or handbags for inspection.
  • Harassment of staff and visitors is prohibited.
  • Personal hygiene habits must not infringe upon other people's use of the library.
  • Cell phones and pagers should be set to mute or vibrate while in the library.

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RULES FOR THE SUPERVISION OF MINORS 
Parents, caregivers and teachers are responsible for the behavior of children under their supervision. Children under the age of 9 must be accompanied by a parent or responsible caregiver 12 years old or older.   A responsible adult must directly accompany preschool children at all times. Library staff cannot assume responsibility for children at any time. If an unattended child is in the library at closing time, police will be notified and asked to pick up the child. Library staff is not permitted to offer the child transportation home.


VISITORS WHO FAIL TO FOLLOW LIBRARY BEHAVIOR RULES MAY BE SUBJECT TO THE FOLLOWING ACTIONS:

  • First offenders will be asked to leave the library property for one day.
  • Second offenders will be asked to leave the library property for up to two days.
  • Third offenders will be asked to leave the library property for up to one week.
  • Fourth offenders will be asked to leave the library property for up to one month and will be barred from visiting all Ventura County Library branches during the period of barring.
  • Violent behavior or harassment of staff or visitors may result in the offender being barred from all Ventura County Library branches for periods of one month or more, even if this offense is the offender’s first.

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Linking Policy for Ventura County Library  Website

The primary focus of the website of Ventura County Library (VCL) is to provide online access to library resources such as the library catalog, electronic subscription databases and individual branch location pages – including programs, events and announcements. 

Our website may link to external websites and information resources. These links are not intended to be comprehensive.

Links will typically be limited to sites whose content has direct relevance to VCL and its patrons. All links must be to sites with content consistent with VCL's mission and collection development policy.

VCL reserves the right to revise, reject or remove links to any website without notice.

The appearance of a link on the Library’s website does not constitute an endorsement by VCL of the site’s content, viewpoints expressed, sponsoring organization, products or services.

Sites requesting a link on the Library’s website should send requests to the VCL Web Librarian.

Linking to Ventura County Library
VCL encourages organizations and individuals to link to the Library’s website at www.vencolibrary.org. Copyright law applies.

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Donated Materials Policy (Revised 12-2008)

The Ventura County Library appreciates your donation of books and other library materials.  If a donation is to be considered for addition to the library collection, it must be given to a staff member, who will issue a receipt for the donation.  Materials considered for the collection must have been published or released within the last two years, must be in excellent condition, and must be judged by staff to have value for the library collection.

Materials not added to the library collection may be given to Friends of the Library groups, which support library operations through book sales and other events.  In this way, every donation helps your local library.

Thank you for thinking of Ventura County Library!

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