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Computers and Internet in libraries

No public computers on Wednesday 9 May

Unfortunately there will be no public computers available on Wednesday 9 May 2012. This is due to essential maintenance.

We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.

Library computers

All Warwickshire libraries have computers with Internet, Microsoft Office word processing, spreadsheets, databases and presentations. Scanning and photo editing is available at some libraries.

You can print, save to the hard drive temporarily, and save to an external device or memory.

Book a library PC - book your next session online.

Library costs and fines - charges for computer use and printing.

Online Reference Library - subscription websites available for free, including family history resource, Ancestry, and Theory Test Pro for learner drivers.

Members

Library members have 30 minutes free computer use per day. Further time can be purchased - please see our charges page. Temporary members are not eligible for free computer use.

Non-members

Visitors / Non-members and temporary members can purchase computer time - please see our charges page.

Children

Children (members and non-members) can visit our 'Walled Garden' of filtered websites, free of charge.

Safe surfing guide (pdf, 138Kb)

Young people, aged 12-15 years or 11 years and attending Secondary School, can visit sites outside of the Walled Garden if a parent, grandparent, carer or guardian give permission, in person.

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New to computers?

Staff can help with simple guidance and getting started. 1-1 sessions with a Library ICT and Learning Officer are available for a small charge Silver Surfers Internet and email help is available for the over 50s. Contact any library for more information.

Booking

Computers can be booked in advance via Book a library pc online with a library card number and PIN. Alternatively Contact a library. Bookings are held for 10 minutes from the session start time.

When you book by phone or in person you are told which computer you will use. If you have booked online please make a note of your booking or better still, print out the confirmation page. On arrival, go straight to the computer and enter your library card number and PIN

iKiosk self-service

Leamington, Nuneaton and Rugby Libraries have self-service iKiosks located near their computer suites. You can:

  • print documents
  • top-up computer credit
  • book future computer bookings
  • check computer availability
  • avoid the queue for a member of staff

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Wi-Fi in Warwickshire libraries

Free Internet access.... email.... search... work, study, play...on your laptop, via our Wi-Fi Internet access..

Wi-Fi is wireless technology which connects the user to the Internet, at Broadband speed, using low power radio waves.

Libraries with Wi-Fi

All Warwickshire libraries with the exception of Hartshill and Kineton have Wi-Fi.

What you need to get connected.

A laptop, PDA, mobile phone or other device with built in WLAN capability or an added Wi-Fi card.

How to connect

You can get connected through the public network link. Access is via a filtering system.

Staff cannot assist you in setting up Wi-Fi access on your PC. You are responsible for setting up your own equipment. If you do experience technical problems, please tell a member of staff who will log your problem with our helpdesk.

What you can do when connected.

You have the same Internet access; email, messaging and searching as customers using Library computers.

You can access the Online Reference Library websites, including World Book, Oxford English Dictionary and Britannica (but not Ancestry.com) with your library card.

Can you print from the Wi-Fi connection?

No. If you would like to print, please save the information and use one of our public library PCs.

Wi-Fi public user guide

Public user Wi-Fi guide (pdf, 592Kb)

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Internet help

  • Search the Internet
  • E-mail and Messaging
  • Safe Surfing
  • PC Support
  • Online Reference Library

Accessibility

The following are available on most computers:

  • Keyboard with large print (black with yellow caps)
  • Trackball
  • Windows XP accessibility features

The following are available at larger libraries - please contact first to confirm:

  • Zoom text
  • Jaws

Safe use

Anti-virus software is regularly updated and external devices are virus checked before use. The County Council accepts no responsibility for any material lost as a result of virus checking. The County Council accepts no responsibility for any viruses saved to removable media and taken home.

Adult and child Internet access is filtered. No filtering software is 100% effective; if you think a site should be blocked or permitted please speak to a member of staff or complete the online form on the website blocked message page.

Safe surfing guide (pdf, 138Kb)

You are advised to select the ‘end session’ button when you have finished using the computer. This will remove all items from the history, favourites and cookies files. You are also advised to log out of any web facilities such as email or chat.

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Acceptable use agreement

Failure to comply with the agreement below can result in facilities being withdrawn. The sending or copying of material in violation of any laws is prohibited. This includes copyright, and threatening or pornographic material.

Computers - Acceptable Use Agreement

1. The Department of Libraries, Learning and Culture provides free public access to the Internet and other computer resources as part of its role in providing access to information, education and leisure opportunities for the whole community and as part of its commitment to supporting lifelong learning. You can only use the computers using your own library ticket number or a guest id provided by staff.

2. Responsibility for activities carried out on the Internet, including financial transactions, rests solely with the individual user and never with the County Council. This also applies to any downloaded material for use elsewhere.

3. Children are actively encouraged to use the Internet and require the consent of their parents/carers to do so if between 12* & 15 years. Children under-12 can only access the ’walled garden’ closed Internet facility and may do so without any parental consent. The Department affirms the right and responsibility of parents/carers of children to determine and monitor their own children’s use of Departmental materials and resources, including the Internet (* 11 years if attending Secondary School).

4. The Department has no control over the information provided on the Internet and cannot be held responsible for the quality, authenticity or accuracy of information obtained. Neither has it any control of the performance of the Internet.

5. Material can be printed from the Internet on payment of the appropriate charge and must comply with current copyright regulations.

6. The Internet contains a wide variety of information and opinions. The Department strives to balance the rights of users to access these resources with the rights of people to use a public environment free from disruptive sounds and offensive visual images.

7. Filtering software is used to restrict access to sites that the County Council deems inappropriate and/or offensive. The effectiveness of any filtering software cannot be guaranteed and any user can recommend that access to a particular site can be permitted or denied using online or paper Customer Comments forms.

8. The user undertakes not to create or access any obscene, offensive or defamatory material, nor to interfere with the hardware, software or operation of the computers, or to attempt to gain unauthorised access to the network.

9. The user will indemnify the County Council and keep the County Council fully and effectively indemnified against all actions, proceedings, claims, demands, damages and costs occasioned to the County Council as a result of any breach of this undertaking.

10. The Department will monitor usage of the Internet and other computer resources via software and visual checks. Any attempt by users to access prohibited sites or other unauthorised material may result in further action being taken, including the withdrawal of Internet access.

11. Please note that under the Obscene Publications Act (1959 & 1964) and the Telecommunications Act (1984), it is an offence to publish an obscene article and to transmit a message or any other matter that is grossly offensive, indecent or threatening over the telephone lines in England and Wales.

12. The user agrees not to use our computers to receive live TV programmes or extracts.

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