Moffett Library has computer workstations available to students, faculty, staff, and the Wichita Falls community. The computers provide access to electronic library collections, databases, and other information resources for the purpose of supporting learning and research. 

The intent of the following policy is to ensure that the library workstations are used effectively, primarily benefiting our academic users. Currently enrolled MSU Texas students are our highest priority. 

This policy covers all open-use computers on all floors of the library, as well as any copiers, scanners, or other computer equipment available to users. For information about the computer lab on the 2nd floor, please refer to Information Technology: Labs. 

 

 

Computer Use Guidelines  

  • All computer users must follow university, state, and federal policies and laws, listed or not, related to use of these computers, use of the Internet, copyright, downloading materials, sexual harassment, and child pornography. 
  • These regulations apply to the library workstations, patrons using personal laptops inside the library, and library-owned laptops checked out and taken to another location. 
  • The library’s computers are primarily for educational or research purposes. 
  • MSU Texas students, faculty, and staff have priority; their academic research needs always take priority over non-university users. 
  • Non-MSU community patrons have a time limit of 2 hours on the public computers in order to ensure that computers are available for MSU Texas students.
  • For your personal security, please close the web browser when finished. When the browser is restarted, the cache and history are cleared, and it reopens automatically with a clean session.
  • Please be considerate of other library users. 

Note: The open-use computers in the library are restricted to allow only use of the web browser. Students needing access to a computer with Microsoft Windows to use programs, print documents, or save files should use the computers in the library lab. 

 

 

Internet Use Guidelines  

  • The Moffett Library cannot police the Internet and takes no responsibility for its content. 
  • Users must take responsibility for their own activities on the internet. 
  • The Moffett Library respects the users’ rights to privacy in accessing information on the Internet. However, it must be consistent with the policies of Midwestern State University and the laws of the State of Texas. 

The policies and laws include, but are not limited to:  

 

 

Copyright Laws  

  • U.S. copyright law (Title 17, U.S. Code) prohibits the unauthorized reproduction or distribution of copyrighted materials, except as allowed by the principles of "fair use." 
  • Users may not copy or distribute electronic materials (including electronic mail, text, images, programs or data) without the explicit permission of the copyright holder. 
  • Any responsibility for the consequences of copyright infringement lies with the user. 

 

 

Violations of Use  

Access to the computers and/or Internet in the MSU Texas library is a privilege granted to library users. The library reserves the right to suspend or amend this privilege if a user:  

  • Violates Texas obscenity laws. 
  • Violates the MSU Texas Information Resources Use and Security Policy.
  • Library workstations may not be used for commercial purposes and must be used in compliance with state and federal laws (See: Texas Penal Code, Chapter 33, Computer Crimes).  
  • Harasses others, including, but not limited to, sexual harassment. 
  • Intentionally damages or destroys equipment, software, or data belonging to Moffett Library or to other users.
  • Copies/scans materials protected by copyright law beyond the bounds of fair use. 
  • Violates database license agreements. 
  • Violates, or attempts to violate, computer systems or network integrity. This includes attempts to bypass network security functions, obtain restricted passwords, or alter the configuration of library workstations in any way. 
  • Uses the Internet for any illegal activity. 

Users of the Moffett Library computers who are in violation of the policy and/or of state and federal laws may be subject to legal, disciplinary, or other action including the loss of access to the workstations and/or the library itself. 

 

Last updated July 2021