Ingalls Memorial Library
Social Media Policy
The Ingalls Memorial Library (“The Library”) uses social media to increase awareness of and accessibility to its programs, resources and services in order to serve its mission. The purpose of this policy is to address use of social media activities including but not limited to blogs, social networks, online communications, online catalogs, websites, and mobile applications by the Library and its employees, volunteers, elected officials, and patrons. The Library’s social media sites are not intended to be traditional public forums for the general exchange of ideas and viewpoints, but a limited public forum for discussing Library programs, events and materials. The Library does not make its social media accounts available for general public discourse, but rather reserves and limits the topics that may be discussed on social media accounts.
Library – Sponsored Social Media
Only those employees responsible for the Library’s social media sites should be actively participating on those sites during work hours. Employees who contribute to the Library’s social media should present content in a professional manner and should check facts, cite sources, avoid copyright infringement, present balanced views, acknowledge and correct errors and check grammar and spelling before posting.
Employees should not discuss confidential, work-related matters through social media.
Content that is posted on Library-sponsored social media sites is subject to the Freedom of Information Act and records retention requirements.
Employee Personal Use of Social Media
Library employees have the same right to self-expression enjoyed by members of the community as a whole when discussing matters of public concern. As public employees, Library employees are cautioned that speech made pursuant to official duties is not protected speech under the First Amendment and may form the basis for discipline if deemed a violation of any policy of the Library. Employees should keep in mind the following best practices when posting content about library-related subjects and issues on personal time.
Trustee Use of Social Media
Library trustees have the same right to self-expression enjoyed by members of the community as a whole when discussing matters of public concern. Trustees should keep in mind the following best practices when posting content about library- related subjects on social media.
Posting on Social Media
The Library permits patrons to comment on Library posts and patrons are invited to share opinions about Library-related subjects, resources and programs. Postings do not indicate Library endorsement of the ideas, issues, or opinions expressed in posts on its social media sites.
The purpose of the Library’s social media sites is to inform Library users about educational opportunities, library programs, events (including those co-sponsored with other organizations) and materials, and to encourage dialogue and the exchange of information and knowledge between users and Library staff about these programs, events and materials. The Library reserves the right to restrict or remove any content that is deemed to be in violation of this policy or any applicable law. Content that is deemed not suitable for posting by the Library because it is not topically related to the particular subject being commented on, or is deemed prohibited based on the criteria defined below, shall be retained pursuant to the records retention schedule along with a description of the reason(s) the specific content was deleted. Content and comments on the Library’s social media accounts containing any of the following forms of content and postings shall not be allowed:
Patron Participation
By joining, utilizing and/or posting on the Library’s social media sites, you agree to comply with this Policy, and the Library’s Internet Access Policy as applicable. The Library’s Social Media Policy applies whether or not a patron chooses to post comments using a computer at the Library or when posting from any other computer to any Library social media site. While the Library encourages dialogue, it respectfully requests that commenters be mindful that its social media sites are open to the public and that commenters be courteous and civil toward one another.
Patrons are personally responsible for their commentary. Patrons should be aware that they may be held personally liable for commentary that is defamatory, obscene, proprietary or libelous by any offended party, not just the Library.
Reviewed and adopted by the Trustees of the Ingalls Memorial Library, 8/27/19
Social Media Policy
The Ingalls Memorial Library (“The Library”) uses social media to increase awareness of and accessibility to its programs, resources and services in order to serve its mission. The purpose of this policy is to address use of social media activities including but not limited to blogs, social networks, online communications, online catalogs, websites, and mobile applications by the Library and its employees, volunteers, elected officials, and patrons. The Library’s social media sites are not intended to be traditional public forums for the general exchange of ideas and viewpoints, but a limited public forum for discussing Library programs, events and materials. The Library does not make its social media accounts available for general public discourse, but rather reserves and limits the topics that may be discussed on social media accounts.
Library – Sponsored Social Media
Only those employees responsible for the Library’s social media sites should be actively participating on those sites during work hours. Employees who contribute to the Library’s social media should present content in a professional manner and should check facts, cite sources, avoid copyright infringement, present balanced views, acknowledge and correct errors and check grammar and spelling before posting.
Employees should not discuss confidential, work-related matters through social media.
Content that is posted on Library-sponsored social media sites is subject to the Freedom of Information Act and records retention requirements.
Employee Personal Use of Social Media
Library employees have the same right to self-expression enjoyed by members of the community as a whole when discussing matters of public concern. As public employees, Library employees are cautioned that speech made pursuant to official duties is not protected speech under the First Amendment and may form the basis for discipline if deemed a violation of any policy of the Library. Employees should keep in mind the following best practices when posting content about library-related subjects and issues on personal time.
- If you identify yourself as an employee of the Library, make it clear that the views expressed are yours alone and do not represent the views of the Library.
- Respect the Library’s confidential and proprietary information. Do not post information that is still in draft form or is confidential.
- No comments with any kind of negative, mocking, condescending, etc. slant should be made about patrons in general, about specific questions from patrons, or about patron behavior on the Library’s social media sites.
- The Library does not endorse, monitor or review the content of personal, non-Library related social media activity of its employees.
- Employee use of personal social media is not permitted during working hours except for work-related purposes such as professional development or library-related social media outlets.
Trustee Use of Social Media
Library trustees have the same right to self-expression enjoyed by members of the community as a whole when discussing matters of public concern. Trustees should keep in mind the following best practices when posting content about library- related subjects on social media.
- If you identify yourself as a Library Trustee, make it clear that the views expressed are yours alone and do not represent the views of the Library or other trustees.
- Respect the Library’s confidential and proprietary information. Do not post information that is still in draft form or is confidential.
- No comments with any kind of negative, mocking, condescending, etc. slant should be made about library patrons or staff in general, about specific questions from patrons, about interactions with staff of the library, or about patron behavior on the Library’s social media sites.
Posting on Social Media
The Library permits patrons to comment on Library posts and patrons are invited to share opinions about Library-related subjects, resources and programs. Postings do not indicate Library endorsement of the ideas, issues, or opinions expressed in posts on its social media sites.
The purpose of the Library’s social media sites is to inform Library users about educational opportunities, library programs, events (including those co-sponsored with other organizations) and materials, and to encourage dialogue and the exchange of information and knowledge between users and Library staff about these programs, events and materials. The Library reserves the right to restrict or remove any content that is deemed to be in violation of this policy or any applicable law. Content that is deemed not suitable for posting by the Library because it is not topically related to the particular subject being commented on, or is deemed prohibited based on the criteria defined below, shall be retained pursuant to the records retention schedule along with a description of the reason(s) the specific content was deleted. Content and comments on the Library’s social media accounts containing any of the following forms of content and postings shall not be allowed:
- Obscenity or child pornography
- Content that promotes, fosters, or perpetuates discrimination and/or harassment on the basis of race, creed, color, age, gender, marital status, religion, national origin, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, ancestry or any other protected category.
- Slanderous, libelous, threatening or defamatory statements.
- Copyrighted or trademarked material.
- Spam.
- Content not related to Library business, programs, events, resources and materials.
- Advertising or sale of merchandise or services; or
- Charitable solicitations or political campaigning
Patron Participation
By joining, utilizing and/or posting on the Library’s social media sites, you agree to comply with this Policy, and the Library’s Internet Access Policy as applicable. The Library’s Social Media Policy applies whether or not a patron chooses to post comments using a computer at the Library or when posting from any other computer to any Library social media site. While the Library encourages dialogue, it respectfully requests that commenters be mindful that its social media sites are open to the public and that commenters be courteous and civil toward one another.
Patrons are personally responsible for their commentary. Patrons should be aware that they may be held personally liable for commentary that is defamatory, obscene, proprietary or libelous by any offended party, not just the Library.
Reviewed and adopted by the Trustees of the Ingalls Memorial Library, 8/27/19
