Overview
All use of the University of Queensland Library's computing and internet access facilities must be consistent with the terms and conditions stated in this policy and any associated University statutes, policies and guidelines.
The Library provides access to computers and the internet to support the research, teaching, learning and community service activities of the University of Queensland. Follow this link for information about visitors to the Library and categories of Authorised Users.
Copyright and Other Intellectual Property Rights
Clients must not make an unauthorised reproduction of material protected by copyright, or use audio-visual items in which copyright subsists, without permission.
A general guide to copyright for UQ students and staff who are making copies for personal research or study is available from the Library website. For further information about copyright or intellectual property rights visit the Copyright page on the Library website.
Conditions of Use
Clients accessing computers or the internet from within the Library must comply with the conditions provided below. Intentional misuse of these facilities may result in sanctions if clients act irresponsibly or disregard their obligations to other users and the University as the provider of their internet access.
Each Library computer is clearly labelled with the functions available and any other use is prohibited.
Clients may use library computers to access the following resources:
- Local applications (eg. Microsoft Office, Endnote and locally accessed databases)
- Web sites within the UQ domain (eg. Library catalogue, UQ/Library websites such as AskIT, my.UQ, my.SINet etc.)
- Licensed electronic resources including, but not limited to, databases, e-journals, the Library's virtual reference collection, e-Newspaper Gateway etc.
- Other Library Catalogues
Access for general internet browsing or to non-proxied web sites will require acknowledgement of these conditions of use and authenticaton with a username and password.
Unacceptable use
Unacceptable use of the Library's computing and internet access facilities includes, but is not limited to:
- Destruction of, or damage to equipment, software, or data belonging to the University of Queensland or other clients
- The use of peer-to-peer file-sharing software including, but not limited to, Kazaa, BitTorrent, eDonkey
- Display of offensive or inappropriate material. This can include, but is not limited to, pornography, hate sites, gratuitous violence and sites using frequent, highlighted offensive language
- Playing games, gambling, or dating/match-making sites
- The violation or attempted violation of any computer network's system security or unauthorised access to any other network or computer system
- The violation of the privacy of individuals or entities that are creators, authors, users or subjects of the information resources.
- Unauthorised reproduction of material protected by copyright, or use of audio-visual items in which copyright subsists, without permission
- Unauthorised monitoring of electronic communications
- Inappropriate use of email services, such as spamming
- The use of software or automated robots, such as website crawlers, harvesters or offline browsers, to systematically download content from websites
Disclaimer
No responsibility is accepted for any damages, direct or indirect, howsoever caused, arising from clients' use of Library computers or associated internet access.
The Library has no control over the content of material publicly available via the Internet and any complaints about Internet content should be directed to the Australian Communications and Media Authority.
Monitoring & Privacy
Whilst the Library respects your privacy and right to use this service as freely as possible, the Library reserves the right to check any client's use of its internet service including data transmissions both sent and received when the Library deems that client to be in breach of these conditions of use.
Follow this link to the University of Queensland's Privacy Management Policy.
Infringement of Conditions
Failure to abide by these conditions of use may result in suspension of internet access, action under the Library Conditions of Use, disciplinary action under the Misconduct Statute and, if necessary, a report to the relevant law enforcement authority.
Clients who infringe these conditions of use may be asked to leave the premises.
Clients who refuse to comply with staff directives may be denied further access to the University of Queensland Library.
Illegal acts involving the use of the UQ Library's computer or internet access facilities may also be subject to prosecution by local, state or federal authorities.
Associated University Statutes, Policies and Guidelines
Use of the University of Queensland Library's computing and internet facilities to access the Internet and Internet services, including electronic mail and the World Wide Web, implies acceptance of the terms and conditions stated in this policy and is also governed by the following University policies and regulations:
Authorised Users
The UQ Library is proud of its tradition of providing a range of information services to 'visitors' of its facilities. The Library operates extended opening hours for up to 87 hours per week and receives more than 3,000,000 visitors through its doors every year.
Visitors use a range of services including using the onsite and electronic collections, study spaces, photocopying and network printing, Internet and Office applications.
Visitors to the Library include current staff and students of the University of Queensland, alumni and reciprocal borrowers, clinical and adjunct title holders as well as members of the public.
A number of categories of public "visitors" have been identified and include:
- Staff from the teaching hospitals - Royal Brisbane and Royal Women's Hospital, Royal Children's Hospital, Mater Health Sciences, Princess Alexandra Hospital
- Students and staff from other Brisbane Universities
- Members of the public
- School students and minors under the age of 18
- Researchers of the Fryer collections
- Ex staff of the University of Queensland
- Potential UQ students
- Visitors associated with the UQL Cyberschool
- Participants in Library training programmes such as "Latch-On" and Continuing Professional Development activities
- Conference Delegates and Official tours
A small percentage of visitors to the Library also fall into a special sub-category of clients who are under the age of 18. The Telecommunications Act 1997 and the Broadcasting Services (Online Services) Act 1999 prohibit the University from providing unsupervised access to the internet to anyone under the age of 18 without evidence of consent by their parent or legal guardian.
Under 18 Internet Access Permission forms are available online from the UQConnect website.
