Terms and conditions of Library internet and wifi usage
Definitions
“Service” means the wireless access to the internet and other information technology in Edinburgh libraries.
“Users” means Edinburgh City Libraries and Information Services members who are using the Service.
“Wi-Fi” the wireless fidelity technology based on the IEEE 802.11 standards, which allows Wi-Fi-enabled devices to connect to the internet when within range of a Wi-Fi network.
1. Introduction
1.1. The City of Edinburgh Council, with principal place of business at Waverley Court, 4 East Market Street, Edinburgh EH8 8BG (the “Council”) is delighted to provide
access to the internet and other information technology to support the educational, recreational and cultural needs of the community.
1.2. The Service is available via public-access computers and/or Wi-Fi
connections in Edinburgh libraries.
2. Access
2.1. Access to the Service is available to library members. New Users eligible for library membership, will be asked to do the following:
- complete the Edinburgh City Libraries and Information Services membership form;
- accept the library membership terms and conditions and Fair Processing Statement;
- produce adequate identification (passport, driving licence, ID Card etc).
2.2 Information provided is used to verify access to public computers. Information is retained in line with the City of Edinburgh Council's Privacy and Data protection policy.
2.3. The Council reserves the right to refuse access to the Service for any
individual who violates these terms and conditions, including but not limited to section 8.
- Council staff, subject to agreement from a library manager or equivalent supervisor, are entitled to determine whether access privileges for an individual should be revoked.
- Where the individual is under 16 years of age, the parent or guardian who signed the individual's library membership form will be notified.
- The individual may be asked to leave the Council premises immediately.
3. Availability
3.1. Wi-Fi connections and public computers are available at all libraries. However, wireless coverage cannot be guaranteed in all public areas.
3.2. Users must co-operate if Council staff ask them to disconnect their Wi-Fi-enabled device from the Wi-Fi network and move to a different area.
3. 3. Wi-Fi connections should be compatible with most Wi-Fi enabled devices, but this cannot be guaranteed.
3.4. Public computer sessions can be pre-booked up to seven days in advance in hourly slots. This can be done by e-mail, telephone, online booking or asking a staff member in person.
3.5. When there is not high demand, public computers may be available without pre-booking for immediate 'drop-in' use. Pre-booked sessions may be extended on request.
3.6. If an extended computer session is required for specific purposes, Users should notify Council staff in advance, giving the reason.
3.7. If specialist equipment is required to assist use of public computer (such as adaptive hardware for disabled Users) Users should contact Council staff in advance.
3.8. Users can view live television broadcasts originating in the United Kingdom via internet video streaming technologies e.g. BBC iPlayer. The viewing of non-live content ('catch-up' or 'on-demand' services) is also permissible.
4. Costs
Use of the Service is free of charge, however fixed charges will apply to basic printing from public computers.
5. Assistance
Staff shall endeavour to assist Users where possible. However, they may not be available to provide dedicated one-to-one assistance.
6. Information security measures
6.1. All access to the internet is filtered to prevent access to inappropriate
material. There are three levels of filtering for Users, as appropriate for their registered age group:
- child 0-11
- teenager 12-15
- adult. 18 and over (includes young adult 16-17).
6.2. The internet filtering mechanism relies on categorisation of sites by a third party and the Council cannot guarantee its absolute reliability or appropriateness.
- the Council may be willing, on request, to release blocked sites which Users consider to be acceptable, and
- Users are asked to notify Council staff if material they consider to be unacceptable is accessible.
6.3. The Council automatically restricts or prohibits certain internet-based activities and technologies, such as:
- online gaming
- the file transfer protocol (FTP)
- file download/upload (according to size)
- peer-to-peer file sharing (e.g. BitTorrent).
As they can seriously impact the speed and reliability of the Service for all Users, the Council reserves the right to extend these restrictions.
6.4. Virus-checking software runs on all public computers.
6.5. Public computer hard drives are cleared automatically at the end of each session to ensure downloaded or user-created data is unavailable to other Users or Council staff.
6.6. The Council only stores data relating to citizens that is used to verify access to public computers.
6.7. It will sometimes be necessary to process personal information to protect individuals from harm or injury, to prevent and detect crime, to comply with legal orders, and to provide information in accordance with a person's rights. The Council will only process your personal information when it is lawful to do so.
6.8. The Council may collect User contact information such as e-mail addresses during the user registration process or via a form on the Wi-Fi portal page.
This information will be subject to the Council's Privacy, Data Protection and Records Management policies, and will not be passed to any third party.
6.9 The Council may use the information to issue important bulletins concerning the Service, or (infrequently) to ask Users to provide feedback about the Service via
questionnaires.
7. Risk and responsibility
7.1. The Council assumes no liability for any loss, damage or injury, direct or indirect, suffered as a result of using the Service.
7.2. The Council accepts no responsibility for the quality, accuracy or availability of information accessed on the internet using the Service.
7.3. Users are solely responsible for the security of any data they choose to provide to websites or otherwise transmit externally via the Service.
7.4. Providing personal details to websites, or within e-mails and instant messages, may lead to the receiving of unwanted attention, for example in the form of 'spam' e-mails.
7.5. The Council accepts no liability for any loss or damage to personal equipment or data stored within it as a result of connection to the public computers or the Wi-Fi network.
7.6. The Council accepts no liability for any loss or damage to personal equipment or data stored within it when connected to power sockets on Council premises.
7.7. Council staff are under no obligation to provide technical support for Users' own Wi-Fi-enabled devices, including their Wi-Fi connection functionality.
8. Prohibited activities
8.1. Users must not engage in activities that are illegal or, in the reasonable opinion of Council staff, could be considered to be offensive, obscene, abusive or otherwise disturbing to other Users. The Council may be obliged to notify the relevant authorities of any such activity.
8.2. Users must not transmit data which has a clear potential to offend or otherwise disturb others. This includes the distribution of unsolicited advertising.
8.3. Users must not tamper with public computer hardware. This includes the attachment of peripheral equipment, but exempts USB 'pen drives' and specialist equipment as per section 3.7.
8.4. Users must not alter the software configuration of public computers. This includes the operating system and all applications / programs. Users may not install additional applications / programs to public computers without express permission from Council staff.
8.5. Users must not attempt to gain unauthorised access to other computers or networks. Users must not connect personal equipment to data points on Council premises.
8.6. Users must not share their login password (used to access the Service) with anyone.
9. Review
9.1. These terms and conditions were issued on 8/12/2022 and supersede any previous releases.
9.2. The Council welcomes feedback on these terms and conditions and the operation of the Service.