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Commission reviews county internet policy draft; questions raised over guest passes and prohibited‑material wording
Summary
Commissioners reviewed a combined Santa Clara County Library internet policy draft and asked staff to clarify guest‑pass use, privacy protections and the draft’s language on prohibited material and on‑screen sharing before the policy moves to the JPA and board for approval.
The commission reviewed a draft Santa Clara County Library internet policy that consolidates separate internet, Wi‑Fi, guest‑pass and online‑forum policies. Staff said the draft updates outdated technology language and combines related rules into a single document that will be refined before being forwarded to the board and the joint powers authority (JPA) for approval.
Commissioners raised two substantive concerns. One commissioner said they were surprised to see a guest‑pass provision that allows temporary access for patrons who opt not to register for a card and asked about the policy’s value and any privacy tradeoffs. Staff replied that guest passes serve out‑of‑town users and patrons concerned about privacy and said staff treats public data carefully.
A second line of questioning concerned a sentence in the prohibited‑material section that attempts to address on‑screen sharing or display behavior. A commissioner asked whether the language differentiates between collaborative screen sharing (permitted) and unwanted exposure to offensive material (prohibited); staff said the intent is to avoid creating situations where a patron is "accosted" by offensive displays and agreed to clarify the wording.
Staff said they will revise duplicative language, correct minor typos and return an edited draft for commission review before proceeding to the board/JPA.
