Meeting Room and Study Rooms

The Kent Public Library has one program / meeting room and two study rooms that are available for public use. The study rooms are available on a first come first served basis and at this time may not be reserved ahead of time (this service will be available soon). Use of the program / meeting room must receive prior approval by the library and or the library board of trustees. Priority is given to library programs.

Meeting Room Policy

The trustees of the Kent Public Library, in recognition of the requirements and desires of the many contributors to and supporters of the library, do hereby make this statement of policy regarding the use of these facilities.

1. It is the desire of the Trustees that maximum use be made of the Community Center facilities within the limits of financial capabilities and scheduling reqirements.

2. The use of the room by the Board of Trustees, Friends of the Library, and/or library personnel holds priority in scheduling and would also not be charged for normal use of same.

3. The Community Center facilities shall be available for the legitimate use of responsible organizations, which are primarily active in the Town of Knet, with the exception of political or religious groups or activities.

4. A schedule of charges covering the cost of utilities, custodial care and supplies, and normal maintenance will be established by the Trustees and revised as necessary. Every organization granted use of the facilities should be charged in accordance with this schedule. Payment will be required in advance.

5. Any request for use of facilities shall be made in writing at least one month before the desired date. An official of the requesting organization shall sign a Use of Meeting Room form and an application will be submitted to the Board for approval. Should cancellation of a meeting be necessary, every effort will be made to give at least 24 hours notice.

6. Organizations using the facilities on a regular basis may apply for blanket permission.

7. Admission to any events held within the Library must be free of charge and open to any resident of the community, subject to reasonable limitations such as those based on health and safety, availability of seating, suitability of program for particular audience, maintenance of decorum, etc.

8. It shall be understood by all persons and groups using the facilities that the Kent Public Library will not be liable for any damage, loss, or theft of personal property, equipment, exhibits, paintings or other items.

9. All persons shall understand that the organization using the facilities will be liable for any damage, loss, or theft of personal property, equipment, exhibits, paintings or other items belonging to the Kent Public Library.

You can access the meeting room application online. Just fill it out and fax it to us at 845-225-8549 or mail it to us as Kent Public Library, 17 Sybil's Crossing, Kent Lakes, NY 10512.

Please be advised that applications for the use of the program / meeting room must receive library approval and may need to be approved by the library board of trustees. The trustees meet on the third Tuesday of every month, so please plan to get your application in to the library prior to that time for prompt consideration.

Internet & Computer Services

COMPUTER and INTERNET POLICY

INTERNET ACCESS POLICY

Since the inception of the Kent Library in 1961, information has been made available in a variety of formats, from print to audiovisual materials. The Internet is viewed as yet another tool or resource tool used to provide information beyond the confines of the Library’s own collection. This technology allows access to ideas, information and commentary from around the world, and is compatible with the Library’s endorsement of the Library Bill of Rights; the Freedom to Read Statement; and with the policies, goals and objectives of the Library. The Internet and its available resources offer a wide variety of material and opinions from diverse points of view, some controversial. The Kent Public Library is mindful of its commitment to the principles of freedom of access but sensitive to the fact that the Internet access stations are in public locations, subject to view by a wide audience, including children.

DISCLAIMER

Since the Internet is a global electronic network not governed by any entity, its available resources may contain material of a controversial or mature nature. The Kent Public Library does not censor and has no control over the information accessed through the Internet, and cannot be held responsible for its content. The Library assumes no liability or responsibility for what is viewed by patrons or left on the screen to be viewed by a subsequent patron. Library users are responsible for the address points they reach and should be aware that not all sources on the Internet provide accurate, complete or current information. Therefore, users need to question the validity of the information, just as they would any other resource. Also, parents or legal guardians of minor children – not the Library staff – must assume responsibility for children’s use of the Internet through the Library’s connection. Library staff is not in a position to supervise juveniles’ use of the Internet. Kent Public Library cannot guarantee computer viewing privacy, nor can the library guarantee the privacy of information sent or received over the Internet. Library staff is authorized to monitor computer use as needed to determine compliance with library policies.

STAFF ASSISTANCE

Although some library staff members are more experienced with the Internet than others, the staff cannot provide in-depth training concerning Internet computer jargon or personal computer use. However, the staff may be able to offer searching suggestions and answer questions. Because of library scheduling, Internet-trained staff may not always be available. Staff cannot assist patrons with their own personal equipment.

COMPUTER USE RULES

To maximize Internet availability, and to allow fair accessibility for all, patrons must follow the following rules and procedures:

• Computers are available during regular Library hours, unless taken out of service for upgrading, maintenance , or training.

• Use of computers is on a first-come, first-served basis.

• Those using the computers will adhere to session times.

• An adult or a responsible person must accompany children under 8.

• Patrons cannot send or receive E-mail (electronic mail) using the Library’s Internet Access account.

• As a precaution against computer viruses, patrons may not use their own software programs on the library computers.

• If patrons need to save files, they may obtain diskettes at the circulation desk for a nominal fee.

Warning: Although the library uses a virus-checker on its computers, this may not protect those diskettes from picking up a virus. The Kent Library is not responsible for damage to a patron’s diskette or computer, or for any loss of data, damage, or liability that may occur from patron use of the library’s computers.

• The Library will provide paper for printing from the Library computers at a nominal cost.

• The Library computers are available for educational, informational, and recreational purposes only, not for unauthorized, illegal, indecent, or unethical purposes. Patrons may not send, receive or display text or graphics that may be reasonably construed as obscene.

• Misuse of the computers will result in the loss of computer privileges.

• Only authorized copyrighted or licensed materials will be allowed to be copied in compliance with copyright laws.

Adopted 11/19/96

Amended 6/17/97

Amended 12/13/05

Using Your Laptop at the Kent Public Library

Subject to the KPL's Acceptable Use Policy, you may connect your laptop to the library's network to access the Internet. Network connections are available at the study carrels and reading rooms in various parts of the library. The library also offers WiFi Internet access.

To connect to the network you will need the following:

• A laptop computer with a 100MB Ethernet adapter. Most laptops manufactured since 2000 and many earlier models have this built in.

• A standard Ethernet cable (not necessary for a wireless connection)to connect your laptop to the library's network. These look like the wires used to connect telephones to telephone jacks but are somewhat thicker and have wider plugs on the ends. For a wireless connection, you need a wireless network card installed on your computer.

• An e-mail account at which you can receive e-mails on your laptop.

• A Web browser (Mozilla Firefox, Internet Explorer, Opera, etc.).

• Software to access your e-mail account. Either Web-based e-mail (Yahoo! Mail, GMail, MSN, etc.) or one accessed using a mail client (Mozilla Thunderbird, Eudora, Outlook, etc.) will work.

Before you can use the library's network you will need to create an account. Once you have created an account you can use it to log onto the library's network. Instructions for creating a new account are given below, as are instructions for logging onto the network when you already have an account.

Getting Started

Whether or not you already have an account you will need to begin by connecting your laptop to an Ethernet port in the library using your Ethernet cable (not necessary for a wireless connection). Start your laptop and then bring up your Web browser. Tell your browser to display any Web site ( www.google.com, for example). Your browser will display the “Welcome to Kent Library” page.

If you already have an account at the library, skip to “Logging On,” below. Otherwise continue with “Creating an Account.”

Creating an Account

Click on the link labeled “Don't have an account? Register here.” This will take you to a page entitled “Welcome! Please enter the following information to register.”

Read the library's Acceptable Use Policy by clicking on the link labeled “Terms of Use.” This will bring up a new browser window or, in some browsers, a new tab displaying the policy. After you read the policy, navigate back to the registration page.

If you agree to abide by the policy, click on the check box indicating your agreement. If you don't agree, you won't be able to create an account.

Fill out the form with the information requested:

• Your name: Please enter your first and last name.

• Your e-mail address: Be careful to type your address correctly. The library's system will send you an e-mail at this address that you will need to use to complete your registration. If you type the wrong address you will have to start all over again.

• Password: Make up a password you will use to log onto the library's network. Enter it in both places on the form. Good passwords are hard to guess but easy for you to remember. They should be at least six characters long and should not be your name or a normal English word.

Click on the “Register” button. If you have correctly filled in the information above, you'll be taken to a page that tells you that you've been given access to the Internet for 15 minutes to complete the registration. After a few seconds, your browser will switch back to the “Welcome to Kent Library” page.

Enter the e-mail address and the password you chose into the spaces provided, and click “Login.”

Your browser will display the same page you've already seen saying you have 15 minutes to complete your registration. Your computer is now temporarily attached to the Internet through the library's network.

Access your e-mail. That is, either navigate your Web browser to your web-mail site or bring up your e-mail program.

Within a minute or two there should be an e-mail from validation@kentlibrary.org in your inbox.

Open the e-mail. In it you will find a Web address (i.e., a URL). Navigate your browser to this address. Most e-mail programs let you do this simply by clicking on it. If yours does not, you will need to copy and paste it into your Web browser.

Your browser will display a page stating that your registration is complete and that you are free to browse the Web, check your e-mail, etc.

Don't forget the e-mail address and the password you chose – you'll need them to log onto the library's network in the future. For this session, though, you can skip the next section since you are already logged onto the network.

Logging On

To log onto the library's network you must have an account. To create one, follow the instructions above. Once you have an account you can plug your laptop into the library's network and log on very simply. Here's how.

With the “Welcome to Kent Library” page displayed in your Web browser, enter the e-mail address and password you chose when you set up your account. Click the “Login” button.

Your laptop will be connected to the Internet through the library's network.

1/31/06