Library Guides: Visitors: Computer access

Guest Computer Access

Guests in Ellis Library may request a login at the Checkout & Information Desk by the north entrance. There are two guest PC computers in the Information Commons, located on the south side of the first floor, behind the Ready Reference section. Look for the large alcove area with "James B. Nutter Information Commons" etched on the glass. There is a two-hour time limit on using these computers. Guests must comply with the Visitor Guest Account for Computer Access Acceptable Use Agreement, Please read the following policies for more information:

The Microsoft Office Suite (Word, PowerPoint, Excel) is not available for non-MU users due to campus license restrictions.

Printing for a fee is available from guest workstations in Ellis Library. Print jobs may be picked up and paid for ($0.05 per page) at the Checkout & Information Desk, 1st floor, Ellis Library. Documents should be emailed to mulibrarycircdesk@missouri.edu. Color printing is not available. We can only accept cash for payment.

Internet Access in Columbia
The Columbia Public Library at Garth and Broadway provides Internet access to community users. Click here for a map. If you have a current library card, you automatically have a library account. If you don’t, you may stop by the Media Desk on the first floor to register for an account. The library also has a time limit on their computers. The public library also provides free wireless internet access.

Visitors' Guidelines & Acceptable Use Policy for Computer Access

Due to high demand for public computers caused by the increased enrollments at MU and because funding for the computers comes from student Instructional Technology Fees (ITF), the MU Libraries must ensure that current UM students, faculty and staff have sufficient access to online resources. The MU Libraries will continue to support the information and research needs of all users, but we must limit the amount of time computers are used by guests and visitors in order to meet the needs of students and researchers from the University.

The following guidelines will govern visitor use of public computers in Ellis Library.

Current University of Missouri students, faculty and staff will be able to sign-on to any public computer in Ellis Library using their current UM email ID and password. Upon logon, they will be permitted full access to the Libraries’ online resources, to the Internet, and to selected software licensed exclusively for University affiliates. UM students, faculty and staff have priority on all computers.

Certain computers designated for Library Catalog access are not restricted, so that all users may identify holdings in the Libraries’ collections quickly.

Visitors to Ellis Library are eligible to use computers under the following guidelines:

Library visitors must request a guest login and password at the Checkout & Information Desk (north entrance) in order to access one of two library computers set aside for guests. Visitors agree to adhere to the Acceptable Use Policy governing computer access for visitors (see Appendix A).
Use of the MU Libraries’ electronic resources is a privilege and may be revoked at any time due to violations of the acceptable use agreement or disruptive behavior. Library staff reserves the right to revoke a guest's computing privileges.
Library visitors will be allowed to access the computers for a maximum of 2 hours per day.
Library visitors will not be permitted access to resources licensed only for use by MU affiliates.

Appendix A
Ellis Library Visitor Guest Account for Computer Access
Acceptable Use Agreement

Ellis Library Visitor Guest Account holders agree to respect the following rules governing acceptable use of the MU resources.
The University of Missouri-Columbia prohibits use of its resources under the following circumstances:

for any illegal activity

for harassment or intimidation

for commercial profit

for promotion of political or religious agendas except in public debate (such as a public network news or listserv forum) or with written authorization per Collected Rules and Regulations of the University of Missouri, Section 110.010 (additional conflict of interest laws and policies, and requirements may apply)

for publishing obscene, pornographic or indecent materials, including chain letters

for unauthorized copying or distribution of text, images, sounds or software or other data including licensed software or copyrighted data otherwise accessible for use

for activities that place people or equipment at significant physical risk (including exposed electrical connections, ionizing radiation, heat, food or drink in a public computing site).

The University has official policies regarding acceptable computer use, which is policy 110.005 Acceptable Use Policy.
The following is considered unauthorized use and is prohibited:

knowingly or carelessly performing an act that will interfere with the normal operations of computers, peripherals or networks

attempting to circumvent data protection schemes or uncover security loopholes

using the network to gain unauthorized access to any computer systems

masking the identity of an account or machine, which includes, but is not limited to, sending email anonymously

attempting to monitor or tamper with electronic communications of other users, or reading, copying, changing, or deleting files or software of other users

using a computer account that you are not authorized to use

Parents or Legal Guardians of minors understand that they are responsible for the information accessed on the Internet by the minor and that the University of Missouri-Columbia does not utilize filtering software. MU Libraries employees do not monitor, nor do they have control over, material and information accessed on workstations within the Libraries. Parents or Legal Guardians ( not University or Library employees) are responsible for a minor’s use of all resources in the MU Libraries, including access to Internet workstations.

For additional information email ask@missouri.email.libanswers.com.