Two Black Laptop Computers Turned on

Get started with Public PCs

Access to the public computers is free to all visitors. Allegheny County library card holders will need to enter their library card number to log in, while non-cardholders may request a guest login. Patrons don’t need to make a reservation just to use public PCs.

Visitors receive up to two hours per day on the public PCs, divided into two one-hour sessions. Library staff can grant additional time as necessary for patrons to complete tests, classes, job applications, etc.

Public PCs on the first floor are disability priority access PCs.

Public PC software

Public PCs are equipped with Windows 11 and the latest version of Microsoft Office 365.

  • Microsoft Edge, Mozilla Firefox, and Google Chrome are all installed as browser options.
  • Adobe Acrobat Reader is installed and available for protected and fillable PDFs.
  • Several free and open-source creative apps are installed, including Blender, Inkscape, and Audacity.
  • Accessibility tools including a screen reader and magnifier are installed.
  • Apps which do not require an administrator password can be temporarily installed on public PCs, but will be erased on logout.

Security and privacy

Dormont Library and other county libraries have several measures in place to preserve the security and privacy of visitors’ information.

  • Microphones are disabled by default on public PCs.
  • PC webcams have a physical slider lens cap.
  • All browsers are set to “incognito” or “private” mode, so closing a window removes all history and cookies.
  • PCs are protected with antimalware software and Deep Freeze and will reset to a default setup after every logout. All documents saved to the public PC’s storage are also deleted on logout.

Public Wi-Fi

Public wi-fi access is available in the building whenever we’re open and 24/7 in the parking lot or as far as the signal reaches. A library card is not required to access the public Wi-Fi service.

Use the “Dormont Library” network to connect to our access points. When connecting, your device should show a prompt to click a “log in” button. If the prompt to log in doesn’t appear, open your device’s internet browser and try to visit any website.

Availability and signal quality are not guaranteed and may be affected by factors beyond our control.

Policy Regarding Internet Safety and Access to Internet Resources

Users should be aware that the Internet is not a secure medium and that third parties may be able to obtain information regarding users’ activities. The Dormont Public Library will not release information on the use of specific Internet resources by members of the public except as required by law or necessary for the proper operation of the library.

The Dormont Public Library assumes no responsibility for any damages, direct or indirect, arising from the use of its computing resources.

Internet workstations cannot be used for any fraudulent purpose, including any activities prohibited under applicable Federal, Pennsylvania, or local laws. Users may not display and/or print materials that may be unlawful.

Material on the Internet is copyrighted. It is the user’s responsibility to be aware of the display of any notices concerning the copyright of information on the Web and to respect the copyright laws of the United States.

Internet resources through the Library are provided equally to all users regardless of age. The Library upholds and affirms the right of each individual to access constitutionally protected material. A minor’s access to the Internet, as well as access to all other materials, is the sole responsibility of the parent or legal guardian. The Library strongly encourages parents or legal guardians to supervise their children’s Internet use and to provide them with guidelines about acceptable use. It is the responsibility of parents and/or guardians to instruct their children not to give private information about themselves or others, when using web sites or e-mail. The Library does not have the right or responsibility to determine the appropriateness of a particular resource for any minor; however, in no event is any person under the age of eighteen permitted to view any obscene and other sexually explicit materials and performances as defined and described in 18 Pa. C.S. 5903 and any amendments thereto.

The Dormont Public Library is committed to providing an environment free from sexual harassment. Adults may be advised that while accessing and viewing sexual materials is within the law for an adult, the risk of exposure to minors and the consequences of being ‘harmful to minors’ are significant. When children are in the proximity or even if another adult is expressly offended, the patron viewing such materials may be asked to close a website. Users may not display on screens and/or printers materials that may be unlawful or prohibited under any applicable federal, Pennsylvania, or local laws. The Library staff will be the sole arbiter of what constitutes unacceptable content. The library staff reserves the right to end an internet session at any time if it is creating a disturbance.

CIPA Compliance

The Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA) is the federal law that requires all computers in a public library to be filtered if that library accepts any federal funds for Internet access or computers used for Internet access. [Supreme Court decision: United States v. American Library Ass’n, Inc. No. 02-361 (June 23, 2003)]. The Dormont Public Library complies with the requirements of CIPA.

All computers in the Dormont Public Library are filtered. Please be aware that filters are unreliable, at time blocking sites of legitimate information or educational value, or allowing access to sites that are illegal, obscene or sexually explicit within the meaning of 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. Sec. 5903.

The Dormont Library uses filtering software that blocks or filters Internet access to some Internet sites that may not be consistent with the policy of the Dormont Library.

Parents or legal guardians, and not the Library or its staff, remain responsible for monitoring their children’s use of the Internet and for the information selected and/or accessed by their children. the Library strongly encourages parents or legal guardians to supervise their children’s Internet use and to provide them with guidelines about acceptable use.

The Dormont Library computers cannot be used for any fraudulent or unlawful purposes, including any activities prohibited under any applicable federal, Pennsylvania, or local laws, including activities in violation of 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. Sec. 5903, which prohibits certain acts of public indecency.

Any adult (17 years of age or older, as defined by CIPA) may request that the filter or technology protection measure be disabled without significant delay by a Dormont Public Library staff member authorized by the Library director, consistent with the privacy policy of the Dormont Public Library.

An authorized Dormont Public Library staff member may override the filter or technology protection measure for a minor (age 16 years or younger, as defined by CIPA) in the event that the filter wrongly blocks or filters Internet access to a site with legitimate information value.

The Dormont Public Library cannot be responsible for any patron’s unauthorized use of a computer with a disabled filter.

Any patron who wishes to file a complaint about the filtering software on the library computers may do so within thirty (30) days to:

  1. The Library Director and/or the Library Board President.
  2. The Director of the Electronic Information Network.
  3. The Federal Communications Commission.