The OWWL Library System (“Library System”) has created and maintains https://owwl.org (the “Library System Website”) in order to make information about its programs, collections, and resources available to the public via the internet.
The OWWL Library System is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization governed by its own Board of Trustees. While the Library System serves 42 member libraries in Ontario, Wayne, Wyoming, and Livingston counties, each member library is itself an independent entity governed by its own board. Nothing in these Terms of Use should be interpreted as granting the Library System governance authority over member libraries.
By using the Library System Website and its content, you agree to comply with and be bound by the following Terms and Conditions. These Terms and Conditions may change from time to time, and we encourage you to review them periodically. Your continued use of the Library System Website indicates your acceptance of any changes. Any changes to these Terms and Conditions are inapplicable to disputes arising, or arising out of events occurring, prior to the posting of such changes.
Ethics
The Library System follows its own Code of Ethics, which is guided by principles of intellectual freedom, equitable access, patron privacy, and responsible stewardship. All operations and use of this site will be evaluated for consistency with that Code.
Proprietary Rights
The Library System owns, solely and exclusively, all rights to the following:
- The Library System Website itself
- All website content, including but not limited to:
- Audio
- Photographs
- Illustrations
- Graphics and other visuals
- Video
- Text (copy)
- Software
- The website’s code, data, and materials
- The overall look, feel, design, and organization of the website
- The compilation of all content, code, data, and materials
This ownership includes all related intellectual property rights, such as:
- Copyrights
- Trademarks
- Patents
- Database rights
- Moral rights
- Sui generis rights
- Any other intellectual property or proprietary rights
Your use of the Library System Website does not grant you ownership of any content, code, data or materials you may access.
Forbidden Uses
Access to and use of the Library System Website in a manner that is intended to, or recklessly risks, causing disruption (“Denial of Service”) is illegal, and any such attempt will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
Use of Content from the Library System Website
The Library System encourages its patrons to use materials from the Library System Website, provided that you follow these guidelines:
- Low Resolution Files (Only Non-Commercial Uses Allowed): Materials downloaded from the Library System Website may only be used for personal, educational, or research purposes. They may not be used for commercial purposes.
- High Resolution Files (All Uses Governed by Policy): Use of high-resolution digital files, including OWWL logos, branding materials, and other system assets, is governed by the System Branding, Logos, and Assets Usage Policy.
- Obtaining Necessary Permissions: The Library System Website contains a wide range of content, including materials that are in the public domain as well as materials that are protected by copyright. In cases where materials on the Library System Websites are protected by third party rights, you are responsible for clearing the necessary rights in order to use the materials in question. The following websites have information about copyright, fair use, and other related topics which may be useful:
It is your obligation to determine and satisfy copyright or other use restrictions when publishing or otherwise distributing materials from the Library System Website. You are solely responsible for determining whether the use of any digital object requires the permission of any other person or entity, and you are responsible for paying any associated fees. If you have questions about the legal issues surrounding the use of digital objects you should contact your attorney.
- Credit the Library System When You Use Materials from Our Website: If you use material from the Library System Website, we ask that you credit the Library System by linking directly to the URL on which the material is found.
Privacy Policy
The OWWL Library System is committed to protecting patron privacy. Information provided by patrons to the Library System is governed by our Confidentiality of Patron Records Policy. By using the Library System Website and services, you signify your acceptance of this policy.
In addition, the Library System may collect limited, non-identifiable information (such as web traffic statistics) for the purpose of improving services. We do not sell or share personally identifiable information.
Contacting the Library System if Your Material Should Not Be on Our Website
In order to make our services available to the widest audience possible, the Library System has placed certain content online. In each instance, we have tried to make sure that we have secured all necessary rights. If you believe that we have made a mistake, please contact us so that we can correct the oversight.
It is our policy to respond to notices of alleged infringement that comply with the Digital Millennium Copyright Act in an appropriate manner under such Act and other applicable intellectual property laws, including the removal or disabling or access to material claimed to be subject of infringing activity.
Direct any notices of infringement to: director @ owwl.org
To file a notice of infringement with us, you must fulfill the requirements specified in Title II of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act of 1998. The text of this statute can be found at the U.S. Copyright Office website, http://www.copyright.gov.
Visitor-Generated Content
The OWWL Library System does not accept or host user-generated content on its website.
Trademarks
The trademarks, logos, and service marks displayed on the Library System Website—including OWWL logos, Booklet logos, library card logos, and other assets listed in the System Branding, Logos, and Assets Usage Policy—are property of the Library System. They may not be used without prior written authorization.
Third-Party Databases
The Library System offers access to databases provided by third parties. These databases are subject to their own terms and conditions. Please review the terms and conditions specific to each database you intend to use and make sure that you comply with the applicable rules.
Disclaimers
- All materials on the Library System Website are provided “as is” without a warranty of any kind, either express or implied, including but not limited to the implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular use, and/or non-infringement. The Library System assumes no responsibility for damage to your computer or other property resulting from your use of the Library System Website. You understand and agree that any downloading or obtaining of material or data through the Library System Website is done at your own risk. In addition, we disclaim any and all responsibility or liability for the accuracy, reliability, and legality of materials found on the Library System Website.
In no event shall the library system or any of the library system’s trustees, employees or affiliated entities be liable for any direct, indirect, special, incidental, consequential, exemplary or punitive damages arising from, or directly or indirectly related to, the use of, or the inability to use, the library system website or the content, materials and functions related thereto.
- Some pages on the Library System Website include links to other websites. The Library System has NOT reviewed all of these websites and is not responsible for the content of these websites. The Library System provides these links as a convenience only, and a link does not imply endorsement of, sponsorship of, or affiliation with the linked site by the Library System.
- The Library System offers access to a broad range of information and materials, including certain materials that may contain offensive language or negative stereotypes. You should view such materials in the historical context in which they were created. All historical media are presented as specific, original artifacts, without further enhancement to their appearance or quality, as a record of the era in which they were produced. Opinions expressed on the Library System Websites are not necessarily those of the Library System or of its Trustees and staff.
Use of Artificial Intelligence
Use of Artificial Intelligence by the Library System in the operation of this Website shall be governed by the most recent NIST standards for risk management.
Record Retention
Records of website content will be retained in accordance with the Records Retention Policy.
Applicable Law
Any legal action brought against the Library System shall be governed by the laws of the State of New York without regard to its conflicts-of-law rules. Any claim asserted against the Library System shall be heard and determined in the federal or state courts located in Ontario County. Users of the Library System Website agree not to commence any litigation relating to the use of any of the Library System Website, except in courts located in Ontario County. Users also waive any objections to venue of any such litigation in courts located in Ontario County and agree not to plead or claim that Ontario County is an inconvenient forum.
Indemnity
You agree to defend, indemnify and hold the Library System and its Trustees, officers, employees and agents harmless from any and all claims, liabilities, costs and expenses, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, arising in any way from or relating to your use of the Library System Website, your placement or transmission of any message, content, information, software or other materials through the Library System Website, or your breach or violation of the law or of these Terms and Conditions. The Library System reserves the right, at its own expense, to assume the exclusive defense and control of any matter otherwise subject to indemnification by you, and in such case, you agree to cooperate with the Library System’s defense of such claim.
Notices
By using the Library System Website, you agree to receive electronic communications from the Library System, whether addressed to the e-mail address associated with your user account or posted on the Library System Website. You acknowledge and agree that any communication via e-mail or by postings on the Library System Website satisfies any legal requirement that such communications be made in writing.
Severability
The provisions of these Terms and Conditions are intended to be severable. If for any reason any provision of these Terms and Conditions are held invalid or unenforceable in whole or in part in any applicable jurisdiction, such provision shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such invalidity or unenforceability without in any manner affecting the validity or enforceability thereof in any other jurisdiction or the remaining provisions hereof in any jurisdiction. The failure of the Library System to exercise or enforce any right or provision of these Terms and Conditions shall not operate as a waiver of such right or provision.
Adopted by the OWWL Library System Board of Trustees on November 12, 2025