FAQs

Computers for public use are on a dedicated network with security protocols in place:

• All computers have anti-virus software.
• Each computer has software that wipes all personal and saved information when the computer is restarted between each session.
• The network is secured with filter software that impedes access to hacking websites and peer-to-peer networks.

Yes. In 2007, a community advisory group, the Pima County Library Advisory Board and the Pima County Board of Supervisors, all agreed that age-specific filtering was appropriate for computers used by county residents in the public library system.

How the Filtering System Works
The filtering system filters sites based on the age of the user. The following categories of web sites are filtered:

Children (ages 0–12) and Wifi

• Adult content, including child pornography, explicit art, obscene/tasteless. pornography/adult content
• Peer-to-peer file sharing
• Illegal or questionable
• Sites determined by Library Administration

Teens (ages 13-17)

• Adult content, including child pornography, explicit art, obscene/tasteless. pornography/adult content
• Peer-to-peer file sharing
• Sites determined by Library Administration

Adults (ages 18 and up)

• Adult content, including child pornography, explicit art, obscene/tasteless. pornography/adult content
• Sites determined by Library Administration

This filtering protects children from inappropriate sites, and likewise filtering at the teen level uses certain criteria deemed acceptable for that age group.

When adults using library computers attempt to access a questionable site (such as sites that are categorized as explicit art, obscene/tasteless, pornography) they will first see a screen advising them of state and federal cautions regarding viewing of questionable websites in public use areas. Adults then can choose to proceed or cancel their website choice.

Pima County Public Library strives to protect all customers' freedom of access to information. We believe this filtering process provides a solid modicum both of protection for young people and of the adult's right to view materials of their choice.

Requests to Unblock a Website
Requests to unblock a website that is currently filtered by the system can be submitted using the Contact Us form.

Filtering and Arizona State Law
Below are the Arizona Revised Statutes that address unfiltered Internet access and its uses when children are present. Engaging in activities that are harmful to minors, as defined in Arizona Revised Statutes, will not be allowed. The viewing of child pornography or obscenity is illegal and will not be allowed.

Arizona Revised Statutes:

• 13-3501 
• 13-3506 
• 13-3506.01
• 13-3507

Visit our Policies & Guidelines page for our Computer and Wifi Use Agreement. You must accept this agreement to use our computers or wifi.

We have microfilm and microfiche readers at Joel D Valdez Main Library.

View in full screen

We have multifunctional copy machines.

Copying

• Copies are $0.10 per side of page (a two-sided copy is 20 cents). 

Scanning

• Scanning is free.
• The copy machine can scan documents into JPG or PDF formats in color or black and white. 
• You must save your document to a flash drive.
• Documents can't be emailed from the copy machine, but you can use your flash drive with one of our library computers to send the document as an email attachment.

Faxing

• You can also send a fax from the copy machine.
• Outgoing faxes are $1.00 per page, local or $1.50 per page, long distance.
• Incoming faxes are .50 per page.
  • If you are using the library to receive a fax, staff must retrieve it for you. We'll hold it for only 10 days for you to pick up.
• International long distance faxing is not available.

View in full screen