Computer Usage

Checking Out

Patrons must check out computers at the main circulation desk upstairs or the youth circulation desk downstairs.

Requirements

Visitors are requested to present photo identification or a library card.

Staff Assistance

Staff provides limited assistance for basic procedures, when available.

Please contact a staff member immediately if you have any problems with using the internet or any computer equipment or software. Do not attempt to fix the problem by yourself.

Time Limits

Adults & Teens 14+

You are only guaranteed 1 hour of computer use per session. If the computers are full and you have exceeded one hour on the computer then you may be asked to give up the computer for another patron.

Children 8 to 13

Patrons are only guaranteed 1 hour of computer use per session on the Junior and YA computers. If the youth computers are full and you have exceeded one hour on the computer then you may be asked to get off the computer so that another patron may use it.

Patrons may check out a computer for no more than two hours per day.

Children under 8 years of age may not check out computers with internet access unless accompanied by an adult parent or guardian. There are five computers without direct internet access in the children's room for use by children under the age of 8. These do not need to be checked out.

Printing

Patrons are allowed 3 free black and white print-outs from the computer. Any additional sheets are 10 cents each. All printouts in color are 25 cents each and those jobs must be sent to the copier. Please ask for assistance with sending a print job to the copier.

All black and white copies are 10 cents per page and color copies are 25 cents per page.

To send a fax costs one dollar for a fax up to 10 pages, not counting a cover page. Each page in excess of that costs and additional 10 cents per sheet. To receive a fax, 10 cents per page is charged.

Please pay for printouts, copies, or faxes at the main circulation desk.

Saving Information

No documents saved to any library computer will be saved once a computer is checked in and re-started. This is to protect our patron's privacy and our computers.

You may purchase a flash drive to save documents on at the circulation desk for $4. If you have an email account, you may also email yourself attached documents as a way of saving them.

Software Programs

All library computers have Microsoft Word, Excel, Publisher and PowerPoint installed. Absolutely no software may be brought from outside the library to be used in any of the library computers.

Internet Usage

Paola Free Library is opposed to censorship. However, because our computers are in full public view, we do employ internet filters. These filters are imperfect and do not catch everything. Therefore, patrons are required to avoid sites containing sexually explicit material, violence, hate speech, illicit drugs, alcohol, and gambling. Also, the public and staff should use library computers only for legal purposes. Please refer to our Internet Usage Policy.

Sanctions

Violators of the above policies may lose computing and/or library privileges. For further details, refer to our Internet Usage Policy.

Violations of the policies for legal use of computers will be dealt with in a serious and appropriate manner. Illegal acts involving Library computing resources may also be subject to prosecution by local, state or federal authorities.

Revised by the Board of Trustees August 8, 2021.