Brick House Internet Café

“A café by youth for youth.”

Computer and Internet Access

Policies and Procedures

Access to the computers at the Brick House Internet Café are free of charge. The public access
Internet computers use the Internet Explorer World Wide Web browser. They are open to users
of all ages at different times throughout the week. Please see the Hours of Operation for the
Brick House Internet Café.

Staff will assist you with instructional materials regarding the Explorer browser and the Internet.
Staff will give you a brief orientation on your first visit, and will answer your questions. Training
workshops in using the Internet are offered at various times. Ask for details. All users must
receive an Orientation Training from staff prior to computer or Internet use.

You must adhere to the Computer and Internet Access Policies and Procedures when using the
computer workstations at the Brick House Internet Café. Please read these terms carefully before
using the computer workstations at the Brick House Internet Café. By using the computer
workstations at the Brick House Internet Café, you agree to abide by the terms and conditions set
forth in this notice. If you do not agree to abide by these terms, DO NOT use the computer
workstations at the Brick House Internet Café.

Internet Permission
Young people under the age of 18 must have a parent or guardian grant permission by signing
and returning the Permission Slip attached to the Brick House Internet Café Acceptable Use
Policy. All young people must have consent from a parent or guardian prior to using the
computer workstations at the Brick House Internet Café.

Session Time Limit

The Internet computers at the Brick House Internet Café are available on a first-come, first-serve
basis. The Brick House Internet Café does not take Internet reservations. There is a one (1) hour
limit for use of Internet computers unless no one is waiting, with a maximum of two (2) hours of

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use per day. Note that this two (2) hour time limit applies to users, not to computers. The Brick
House Internet Café cannot be held responsible for users who are unable to make full use of their
time because of technical difficulties.

Hours of Operation
The Brick House Internet Café is available to young people ages 12 through 20 for Open Lab
from 3:00 pm to 9:00 pm Monday through Friday. Please close all windows and exit Explorer at
the end of your session. All adult school sessions will end by 3:00 pm Monday through Friday.

Email
The Brick House Internet Café does not offer email accounts. You can access free email
accounts on the Internet.

Use of Bookmarks
You will not be able to create bookmarks on the computer workstations at the Brick House
Internet Café.

Downloading Files to Disk

The Brick House Internet Café does not provide data storage. Data files that are not printed or
saved to a disk or CD by the end of your allotted time will be lost. If you chose to save files you
must purchase a clean disk for $1 or CD for $2 at the Staff Desk. The Brick House Internet Café
does not provide any zip or compression files.

Printing
The price for printing is 10 cents per page. There is a box at the Staff Desk to pay for printouts.
Money is collected when the copies are picked up at the Staff Desk.

Viruses
Although we use a virus-checker on all Brick House Internet Café computers, you need to be
aware that this does not create complete protection. You also need to have virus-checking
software on your own computer at home. You can not use your own software programs on the
Brick House Internet Café computers. This will help prevent the spread of viruses.

Be careful opening any files that are attached to your emails, especially from people you do not
know. Most viruses are in what are called “executable files,” in other words, they are programs
that “execute” instructions for your computer to follow. In contrast, document files (such as a
word processing document or graphic) are simply displayed in other programs. It can sometimes
be difficult to identify an executable file, but it helps to understand the concept of file formats
and extensions. Many different file extensions are available for executable files, so in general, if
you receive an attachment that has an “.exe” or a type of extensions you do not recognize, do not
open it unless you verify what it is.
Liability

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Data downloaded from the Internet may contain computer viruses. The Brick House Internet
Café is not responsible for damage to any disk or computer, or any loss of data, damage, or
liability that may occur from your use of Brick House Internet Café computers. Data and files
retrieved from the Internet are not the property of the Brick House Internet Café. Users accept all
risk when they use data or programs from the Internet. Users who use these facilities to access
the Internet, agree to hold the Brick House Internet Café harmless from any liability arising from
inaccurate or misleading information of from concurrent or subsequent damage caused to the
user’s equipment, operating systems, or files from any other direct or consequential injury
caused to them through the use of the Internet.

Number of Users at a Workstation

Two users at a time are permitted at each computer workstation. Exceptions may be granted for
families and unusual situations, such as small classes.

Staff Monitoring and Assistance

Staff will monitor the use of all computer workstations to determine if users need assistance in
effective Internet searching. Staff will also monitor all computer workstations for security
purposes, conformance with procedures and acceptable use policies, and the detection of illegal
activities. Staff are available to give limited assistance in the use of the Internet. Staff may limit
the amount of time assisting users of the Internet in order to provide adequate support for all
other Brick House Internet Café services. Training workshops in using the Internet are offered at
various times. Ask for details.

Nature of the Internet

The Internet is an unregulated medium. The Internet is not organized, cataloged, or evaluated by
the staff of the Brick House Internet Café. The Brick House Internet Café has no control over the
Internet and its resources and assumes no responsibility for the quality or accuracy of any
Internet information. The Internet may contain material of a controversial nature. Not all sources
on the Internet provide information that is current, accurate, unobjectionable, or complete. Some
content is obscene and/or harmful to minors. The Brick House Internet Café does not censor
access to information or guarantee protection from controversial material. If you use the Web,
you accept the risk that you may receive inaccurate and/or offensive material. The Brick House
Internet Café will provide information to assist you in evaluating the accuracy of materials on the
Web. Parents of youth under the age of 18 assume responsibility for their child’s use of the
Internet through the Brick House Internet Café connection.

Internet Safety
These computers do not have blocking software on them because it is technically impossible to
prevent access to all objectionable resources. Please use discretion when using the Internet. If
staff believe the site you are viewing is objectionable, you will be asked to refrain from viewing
that web site at the Brick House Internet Café. For safety reasons, the Brick House Internet Café
recommends that you do not reveal your name, address, or telephone number to anyone on the
Internet.

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Information about online safety related to providing personal identification information, use of e-
mail, chat, and other forms of direct electronic communication will be provided through the
Brick House Internet Café. The goal of the Brick House Internet Café is to provide information,
materials, and services to meet the wide range of young people. Parents are encouraged to
discuss the use of the Internet with young people. Parents are advised to read and share with
youth the pamphlet entitled Child Safety on the Information Superhighway, published by the
National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. The pamphlet is available online at
www.missingkids.com. Printed copies of the pamphlet are also available at the Staff Desk.

Appropriate Uses
Internet computers may be used for legal purposes only. Unacceptable use include, but is not
limited to: harassment, libel, or slander; destruction of or damage to equipment, software, or
data; disruption of unauthorized monitoring of electronic communications; unauthorized copying
of copyright-protected material; unauthorized access, including hacking and other unlawful
online activities; breach security of the Brick House Internet Café computers or of computers
belonging to another person or corporation; upload data into another computer; alter or attempt
to alter programming in the Brick House Internet Café’s computers or in computers belonging to
another person or corporation; or to access the operating system of this or any other computer.

Violation of Procedures and Loss of Privileges

Using the computer workstation constitutes your agreement to the terms set forth in these
policies and procedures. Failure to abide by these terms will result in the loss of the privilege of
using the Internet and computer workstations at the Brick House Internet Café. Evidence that
you have attempted to change the program settings on the PC, or have tried to run your own
software on the machine will result in an immediate loss of privileges. The Brick House Internet
Café reserves the right to deny access to the Internet or computer workstations to anyone who
has damaged the equipment through vandalism, the use of computer software, or disruptive
behavior. Compensatory damages may be sought. Evidence that a user has performed or
attempted to perform illegal activities will result in an immediate loss of privileges. The user will
be liable for any misuse of the computer. The Brick House Internet Café will terminate any
session if the user is operating in violation of Brick House Internet Café procedures.

Suspicion or evidence of violation of Brick House Internet Café policy and procedures will result
in staff alerting users to the requirements of the policy and procedures. The alert will be noted as
a warning slip in the staff log. A user who has previously been given a warning slip regarding
unacceptable use or behavior will be warned if the same or similar violation of policy or
procedures occurs that he or she will be suspended from Brick House Internet Café use at the
next incident. The warning will be noted in the staff log. A user who has previously been warned
of a violation of policy or procedures will be suspended for two (2) weeks for a subsequent
violation. The suspension will be noted in the staff log and the user’s record. A subsequent
violation by the user will result in a four (4) week suspension. The suspension will be noted in
the staff log and the user’s record. A violation following a four (4) week suspension will result in

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a one (1) year suspension. The suspension will be noted in the staff log and the patron’s record.
Behavior that appears to be illegal that is detected by the Brick House Internet Café will be
reported to the appropriate authorities and will result in a more severe initial discipline by the
Brick House Internet Café.

Web Guidelines
The Brick House Internet Café does not provide web pages as an advertising or promotional
service for local organizations. It serves as a source of information for teens and the general
public. The Brick House Internet Café has no obligation to advertise or promote local businesses,
agencies, services, or organizations.

Privacy Statement
We will not share any of your personal information you give us with anyone unless required by
court order. We do not collect or sell your information for commercial purposes. Your user
information is confidential.

Indemnity
You agree to indemnity and hold the Brick House Internet Café and its subsidiaries, affiliates,
directors, officers, agents, any employees harmless from any claim or demand, including
reasonable attorney’s fees, made by any third party due to or arising out of control of material
you submit, post, transmit, or make available through the site, your use of the site, your
connection to the site, your violation of this policy, or your violation of a third party’s rights.

Copyright
The copyright law of the United States (Title 17, USC) governs the making of copies or other
reproductions, including digital copies, of copyrighted materials. The person making the copy is
liable for copyright infringement.

The Brick House Internet Café reserves the right to modify this policy at any time.

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