Communications Systems/Email Policy

Orland Park Public Library provides technology resources, including computer workstations and high-speed Internet access, as tools for productivity and to help staff provide quality customer service to our patrons. Employees of the Orland Park Public Library may also use the Internet for reasonable personal purposes which are consistent with and do not interfere with the library’s mission of public service.

Employees may not use the technology resources provided by the Orland Park Public Library in such a way as to interfere with the duties of their employment or to expose the Orland Park Public Library to cost or risk of legal liability. This policy outlines the responsible and acceptable use of technology resources. Every staff user of the Orland Park Public Library technology resources is required to be familiar with the policy and conduct themselves accordingly. The policy is not intended to be exhaustive and may be revised by Orland Park Public Library administration and the Library Board as necessary.

1. Equipment and Software
   All computers, peripheral equipment, software, and data on library staff workstations are the property of the Orland Park Public Library.

• Employees may not alter the hardware or software configurations of Orland Park Public Library computer workstations without prior approval of library administration.
• Employees may not make a copy of any library software for personal use, nor install software, or add peripheral equipment or devices to library workstations or the network without prior approval of library administration.
• Employees may connect personal wireless devices, e.g. laptop computers, to the library’s public wireless access points, but may not connect these devices to the internal staff network without prior approval of library administration.
• Employees may not divulge any library passwords, codes, or security procedures to any member of the public unless authorized to do so by library administration.

2. Internet and Email
   Provided that the personal use is moderate in time and does not compromise productivity or interfere with the employment duties of the employee or his or her colleagues, employee may use the Internet access provided by Orland Park Public Library for:

• Work-related purposes
• Sending and receiving personal email messages, provided that if email messages are sent with a orlandparklibrary.org address, a disclaimer shall accompany the email to the effect that the views of the sender may not represent those of the Orland Park Public Library;
• Reading and posting work-related list serve messages on the same condition specified above;
• Accessing the World Wide Web for personal purposes; and
• Utilizing any other Internet service or protocol for personal purposes after obtaining permission to do so from administration.

3. Unacceptable Use
   The Orland Park Public Library does not monitor the content of Internet sessions conducted on, or of emails sent from staff workstations. However, Orland Park Public Library has the right to collect logs of Internet usage which may reveal information such as websites that have been accessed from staff workstations. All staff members should keep this in mind when using the Orland Park Public Library equipment to access the Internet or send emails.

   Employees are personally responsible for all messages that they transmit using the technology resources provided by Orland Park Public Library. Employees shall not use the Orland Park Public Library computers to transmit fraudulent, defamatory, harassing, obscene, or threatening messages, or any communications prohibited by law.

   In addition, except in the course of an employee’s duties or with the express permission of administration, the technology resources provided by the Orland Park Public Library may not be used for:

• Personal commercial purposes;
• Disseminating confidential information concerning the Orland Park Public Library operations, personnel or patrons;
• Causing any other person to view content which could render the Orland Park Public Library liable pursuant to equal opportunity, discrimination, or obscenity laws;
• Downloading software or media files or data systems that will consume excessive network bandwidth; or
• Any illegal purpose.

4. Consequences of Unacceptable Use
   The Orland Park Public Library has the right to monitor employee use of library-owned equipment and network access, and shall conduct audits of such use at any time. Unacceptable use may be an individual incident, or it may be a pattern of behavior; for example, spending an inappropriate amount of work time viewing non-work-related websites.

   Orland Park Public Library employees will be duly informed of any observed violations of this policy. Library administration will address them on an individual basis, and employees will be given an opportunity to rectify the problem. However, serious and/or repeated violations may be grounds for disciplinary action up to and including dismissal from employment.