Many of the activities undertaken by OPLIN to secure and maintain the telecommunications network are not publicized and are not likely to be noticed. In some instances, however, the administration of the network must involve OPLIN participants.
The OPLIN Board affirms its belief that all matters of policy dealing with public access are a matter for local control. We respect the right of each local library board to set policy regarding public access to the Internet at each library. In order to have the information needed to apply for Universal Service (E-rate) discounts on Internet costs, however, OPLIN will annually request information from each OPLIN participant about local Internet access practices and policies, including the participant's current status in regard to compliance with the Children's Internet Protection Act (CIPA). This information will in no way affect participation in the OPLIN network.
To the Internet community, OPLIN appears as one large network, and malicious network activity by one OPLIN participant may have consequences for all OPLIN participants. As soon as any malicious network activity coming from an OPLIN participant is detected, therefore, OPLIN will contact the originating participant and proactively begin procedures to halt the malicious activity.
From time to time the OPLIN Support Center receives complaints alleging illegal activity from an IP address within the OPLIN network. The OPLIN Support Center always passes such complaints to the local library, which decides how to respond to the inquiry. OPLIN does not provide any information to the accuser about the OPLIN participant involved in the complaint, with one important exception: If OPLIN determines that the claimant can be verified as a legitimate, appropriate law enforcement agency, the OPLIN Support Center provides the identity of the library to such legitimate authority, who then may contact the OPLIN participant directly. In such cases, the OPLIN Support Center alerts the library of the impending contact from the authority and informs the library that the identity of the authority has been verified.
Adopted by the OPLIN Board on April 8, 2016 combining three earlier policies.