Appropriate Use of Computer Workstations and Electronic Resources

• The electronic resources made available by the University Libraries to students, staff, and faculty are for research and related activities in support of the individual's role as a student, staff, or faculty or in support of the University's mission. Priority for use of these workstations is given to Howard University students, faculty, staff and others engaged in research activities.
    
• Users shall not conduct business unrelated to the University or excessively use resources for personal reasons; such use includes, but is not limited to sending storing personal files on computer systems; printing output for personal projects without permission; using lab computers for long times to send personal e-mail or web browsing.
    
• In accordance with the University Policy on Academic Freedom and Responsibility, the University Libraries do not control information available over the Internet and are not responsible for its content. Patrons should be aware that Internet sites may contain offensive or controversial material. Parents or legal guardians of minors are responsible for monitoring the library activities of their children. Users at workstations are in a public building and expected to show consideration for others.
    
• Use of electronic resources must be in accordance with the campus-wide policy on Acceptable Use of Information Technology Resources, the University's Code of Conduct and Judiciaries, Code of Ethics and Conduct, and related guidelines. In addition, U.S. Copyright Law and contractual license agreements govern the access, use and reproduction of the electronic resources that the University Libraries makes available to its users.
   
• Full privacy in open-access spaces cannot be guaranteed. Others may see what an individual is viewing. Users should clear the screen of search results when finished. Users should consider the sensibilities of others in accessing networked resources at public access stations and using shared printers. Display of sexually explicit material in these public settings may be considered intimidating, offensive, or hostile to others. Such activity may, therefore, constitute a violation of the University's Sexual Harassment Policy

Copyright Law (Title 17 of the United States Code)

'Fair Use' Guidelines

Reproductions (print or electronic) made by users of the University Libraries’ electronic resources are governed by the Fair Use Section of U.S. Copyright Law, except when the resources are covered by license agreements (see below). Fair Use generally permits users to make reproductions for non-commercial, educational purposes such as criticism, comment, teaching, scholarship and research. Reproductions are usually considered to be fair use if:

• The use of the reproduced material is academic in nature, and for nonprofit, educational purposes.
• The purpose of making reproductions is for time-shifting, i.e. to make materials available for study at the user's convenience, but not for archival purposes.
• The reproduction is for a single copy or one original, as opposed to multiple copies.
• The reproduction is reasonable in length given the nature of the material.
• Reproductions provided by the University Libraries.

Reproductions (print or electronic) made by University Libraries staff for users of the University Libraries' electronic resources are governed by the Section 108 of U.S. Copyright Law, "Reproduction by libraries and archives." As Howard University and its Libraries are non-profit, and open to the public, library staff are permitted to provide its users with reproductions of electronic resources provided that:

• The reproduction is for no more than one article or other contribution to a copyrighted collection or periodical issue.
• The reproduction becomes the property of the user.
• Library staff have no reason to believe that the reproduction will be used for any other purpose other than private study, scholarship or research.

More about Copyright

License Agreements

The use of many electronic resources provided by the University Libraries is governed by license agreements negotiated between the University Libraries and publishers or third parties. Such licensing agreements impose even greater restrictions on use than copyright law. In general, these legally binding contracts allow students, staff, faculty, and other authorized users to access these resources for noncommercial, educational, scholarly and research purposes. They generally prohibit large-scale systematic downloading of articles or other information, sharing of articles or other information with individuals at other institutions, and using such articles or information for commercial purposes. In addition, users should be aware that publishers may monitor use of electronic resources to ensure that the terms of their licensing agreements are enforced.

Cautions

1. Do not share your access password with family, friends, or co-workers. Electronic resources are licensed for use by Howard University students, staff and faculty. Other users may access such resources only from a computer terminal in a campus library.
2. Do not download entire issues of electronic journals or attempt to create large databases from bibliographic files. However, it is acceptable to download reasonable amounts of citations into bibliographic management software.
3. Do not share copies of material with friends at other institutions.
4. Do not copy and use material without proper attribution.
5. Do not share proprietary software (such as that needed to access the Beilstein database) with individuals at other institutions or companies.

Prohibitions Pertaining to Networks and Computer Security

Users are prohibited from using systems and networks to conduct various activities including, but not limited to, the following:

• Access or use without explicit authorization accounts, information, systems or networks at Howard or at other sites accessible from Howard's networks.
• Disrupt or interfere with the performance or functional behavior of systems or networks; such interference or disruption includes, but is not limited to: propagation of computer worms or viruses; the transmission of information which, by virtue of its content, amount, or routing, degrades the performance, functionality, or reliability or any network or system.
• Interfere with productivity, privacy, or comfort of users of systems or networks; such interference or disruption includes, but is not limited to: distribution of unsolicited advertising or recruiting materials; transmission of annoying amounts of information not desired by the recipient(s); impersonating another user; attempting to gain access to or use the passwords or access codes of another user; and altering or deleting information belonging to another user.
• Inspect, copy, transmit, distribute or disclose any proprietary or confidential information or data, including that pertaining to Howard University's students, employees, vendors, donors, and alumni; this applies to both print and electronic formats.