La Vernia ISD Community/Library Patron Acceptable Use Policy Authorization Form

I understand that this form must be signed and returned to the School before I am allowed access through the library to District networks, computer systems and the Internet.

By signing below, I acknowledge that I have received and read the District’s Community/Library Patron Acceptable Use Policy governing the use of educational technology and understand that I am obligated to become acquainted with the rules, procedures and policies outlined in the policy.

I certify that I understand this policy, and that I have read and reviewed it fully.

I understand that I will be held accountable for my actions, and that civil and/or legal action will result from violations of this policy.

Patron’s Full Legal Name	Phone
Address (Street, City, State, Zip)
Signature	Date

La Vernia ISD Community/Library Patron Acceptable Use Policy

Introduction

La Vernia ISD incorporates technology as a natural part of the educational process. The use of educational technology empowers community library patrons and fosters development of life-long learning skills through access to the latest equipment, information and resources.

Computers and technology are integrated into every facet of the educational and administrative process. La Vernia ISD endeavors to provide appropriate educational technology and the skills required to use this technology responsibly for all community library patrons in order to prepare them for the workplace of the next millennium.

La Vernia ISD’s educational technology includes campus-wide and District-wide computer networks utilizing direct Internet access. Distance learning, streaming web-based video content, electronic mail and fax services are also available. Secure access firewalls and content-filtering software are utilized in order to protect users from inappropriate content on the Internet/World-Wide Web.

The La Vernia ISD Community/Library Patron Acceptable Use Policy explains and defines responsible and ethical use of educational technology for all users. All rules embodied herein guide patrons in appropriate and acceptable use of District technology, and are designed to protect both the patron and the District. This policy also governs the use of patron-owned personal electronic devices including wired or wireless desktop, portable and handheld computing devices, cameras, and cellular telephones.

Access to technology and electronic communication systems, including computer networks and the Internet, is made available exclusively for instructional purposes in accordance with District guidelines and regulations. Access to these systems is a privilege, not a right.

All patrons are required to acknowledge receipt and understanding of the Acceptable Use Policy document and must agree in writing to comply with all regulations and guidelines contained herein.

Patrons will not be allowed access to any educational technology or computer equipment in La Vernia ISD until their Acceptable Use Policy Authorization Form has been signed and returned to the school’s librarian.

Once the authorization form has been returned, each patron will be issued a unique login identification code allowing access to the appropriate educational information systems. Access to the Internet is filtered in accordance with CIPA (the Children’s Internet Protection Act) and all AUP violations are tracked by user.

All passwords are confidential and must not be revealed.

Community members and library patrons with questions or concerns regarding the Acceptable Use Policy should contact the campus principal or call the La Vernia ISD Technology Department at (830) 779-2181 extension 2232.

Community/Library Patron Acceptable Use Policy

La Vernia ISD declares the following unethical and unacceptable behavior just cause for taking disciplinary action, suspending or revoking access privileges, revoking library patron privileges, and/or initiating civil and/or legal action in any case in which the patron:

· Uses the network and/or any attached equipment for illegal, inappropriate, subversive or obscene purposes or activities. Illegal activities shall be defined as activities violating local, state and/or federal laws, including use of the network to commit forgery, fraud or assist in the commission of a felony. Inappropriate use shall be defined as a violation of the intended educational or administrative use of the network. Subversive activities shall be defined as activities undermining the security of local, state or national governments, or activities intended to cause mental anguish, bodily injury or death to any citizen or group of citizens. Obscene activities shall be defined as a violation of generally accepted social standards for use of a publicly-owned and operated communications vehicle, including possession or transmission of any form of pornographic or erotic material;

· Uses the network and/or any attached equipment for any illicit activity, including violation of copyrights, patents, institutional or third-party copyrights, license agreements or other contracts. Illicit activities also include transmitting or accessing information designed to aide or abet an individual or group in violating the law, including all forms of access to gang-related or organized-crime-related web sites and bulletin boards;

· Uses the network and/or any attached equipment to obtain and/or distribute illegally duplicated and distributed digital music, video and/or software from copyrighted sources. This expressly prohibits accessing “Napster” and/or other websites and web rings designed to disseminate non-public-domain content and entertainment including, but not limited to, MP3 audio files, movies, and executable software code;

· Intentionally disrupts network traffic, deliberately “crashes” the network or connected systems or tampers with communications cabling and/or devices;

· Damages or destroys computer and/or network equipment or deliberately degrades system performance, including infection of computers or servers with viruses;

· Discloses his/her password to another person or attempts to disclose or discover another user’s password;

· Attempts to copy District-owned software for personal gain, attempts unauthorized transport of District-owned software beyond District boundaries, attempts to install privately-owned software onto a computer or the network or transmits any software via electronic mail or the Internet;

· Uses La Vernia ISD network or computer resources for commercial or financial gain;

· Steals or vandalizes data, equipment or intellectual property;

· Gains or attempts to gain unauthorized access to internal and external resources or entities, including “hacking” into networks, web sites or bulletin boards;

· Forges or alters electronic mail messages or faxes, posts anonymous messages or uses an account or password owned by another user;

· Invades or assists others in invading the privacy of an individual or group;

· Possesses or conveys any data in any form including magnetic (disk/tape), optical (CD-ROM) or hardcopy (paper) which might be considered a violation of these rules.

Community/Library Patron Acceptable Use Policy (continued)

Once logged into the system, patrons will be held accountable for all activities and data transfers occurring on their computer. Any illegal or illicit use will be tracked to the user who logged in. Patrons will be held accountable for their computer whether they or another user initiate the activity, and must not let other users access their computer. Patrons must properly log off the system before leaving their computer.

Group computer usage in which multiple patrons simultaneously share access to a single computer is permitted only under direct librarian supervision. It is the responsibility of the librarian to monitor group activity and prevent illicit use.

Usage of Personal Electronic Devices:

Patrons are restricted in their usage of patron-owned personal electronic devices on District property and at District-sponsored events. Personal electronic devices include but are not limited to patron-owned desktop, laptop, tablet and handheld computing devices, whether wired or wireless, USB drives, cameras and cellular telephones.

The following activities are regulated by the Acceptable Use Policy:

• Patrons are prohibited from using a camera phone (a cellular phone including a camera capable of capturing and transmitting still or full motion images) in any way that violates School or District policies, including illicit and illegal use.
• Patrons are prohibited from using film or digital cameras and film or digital camcorders in any way that violates School or District policies, including illicit and illegal use.
• Patrons may not use personal electronic devices or media including but not limited to CD/DVD burners and USB “pen” or “jump” drives (USB keys) to illegally duplicate and/or distribute copyrighted materials including music, video, movies and software.
• Patrons may not load a bootable, alternate operating system on any District-owned computer from any patron-owned source or media, including floppy disks, CD/DVD discs or USB devices (“pen” or “jump” drives (USB keys), USB hard drives or USB CD/DVD drives).
• Patrons may not acquire, through wired or wireless connection, District-provided network or Internet access from any patron-owned computing device whether desktop, portable, tablet or handheld, without the prior permission of the Librarian and the Technology Department.

Violations of these policies will result in the immediate confiscation of the involved device(s) or media as appropriate. Depending upon the nature and severity of the violation, the confiscated device(s) or media may be held in evidence indefinitely.

Disclaimer

The District shall not be liable for any patron’s inappropriate use of electronic communication resources, violations of copyright restrictions, users’ mistakes or negligence or costs incurred by patrons. The District shall not be responsible for ensuring the accuracy or usability of any information found on the Internet/World-Wide Web.

Electronic mail transmissions, faxes, and program or data files sent, received, created or accessed by patrons are not considered confidential and may be monitored at any time by District staff to insure appropriate use of the educational technology.

La Vernia ISD has the right to restrict or terminate Internet, network or computer access at any time for any reason. The District also has the right to monitor Internet, network and computer activity in any way necessary to maintain the integrity and security of the network and the privacy and accuracy of user information.

Consequences of Violations of the Acceptable Use Policy

Consequences of violations include but are not limited to:

· Suspension or revocation of Internet access privileges

· Suspension or revocation of electronic mail and/or fax privileges

· Suspension or revocation of network access privileges

· Suspension or revocation of computer access privileges

· Loss of library privileges

· Civil action

· Legal action and/or prosecution by the authorities

Remedies and Recourse

Patrons accused of violating the Acceptable Use Policy have full rights to due process and appeals as set forth in District Policy and State and Federal Law.