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Santa Cruz Public Libraries

System Policy Regarding Access by Minors to the Internet

Posted in compliance with the State Education Code, Section 18030.5
January 1, 2000

The Library's mission is to provide materials and services which help community residents meet their personal, educational, cultural, and professional information needs.

In providing these materials and services, the Library does not distinguish or discriminate on the basis of the age of the community resident. It maintains collections and provides services that are organized to meet the different needs of children and adults, but it does not deny access to materials in any collection, or to any library service, on the basis of age. The Library does not act in loco parentis; it does not take the place of parents in deciding what their children may read or view.

At its meeting on October 4, 1999, the Library Joint Powers Board unanimously affirmed this policy (which was adopted by the Library Oversight Committee in February 1992), and declared that it applies to the use of the Internet by minors.

The Library System also imposes rules regarding use of the Internet, just as it does other materials and services. The ones for the Internet include the following:

While protected by the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, sexually graphic Internet sites are best suited for private viewing. The Library is a public space. Therefore, viewing sexually graphic Internet sites in the Library is inappropriate. Library users who do so will be asked to stop immediately.

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