Definition
“Social media” is defined by Merriam Webster Dictionary as “forms of electronic communication (such as websites for social networking and microblogging) through which users create online communities to share information, ideas, personal messages, and other content (such as videos).”
Guidelines
The Hepburn Library of Waddington participates in social media for many reasons but primarily to communicate information about library services and resources, community news and activity, and to engage with the community about topics relevant to the library’s mission or goals.
Social media sites may have their own terms of service, privacy, acceptable behavior, and stated consequences for violating those terms of service. It is up to the user to review those terms of service prior to engaging in social media.
The Hepburn Library of Waddington uses social media for community engagement on several levels, to be determined on a post-by-post basis:
- The library posts information related to its programs, services, and operations. The library may also post information that is related to the Waddington community, surrounding areas, or to library users in general.
- The library may or may not seek comments on individual social media posts. The library reserves the right to close comments at a predetermined time and not in response to the commentary received.
- All social media interaction should be appropriate for audiences of all ages.
- The library strives to provide accurate, timely, and appropriate content on social media. However, social media users should exercise their own judgment about the quality and accuracy of any information presented through social media.
- Public comments on social media do not reflect the views of positions of the library, trustees, or employees.
- Unacceptable behavior by library patrons or the general public on library social media accounts that is not protected by the First Amendment, such as copyright violations, obscenity, child pornography, defamatory or libelous comments, or imminent or true threats against the library or individuals are prohibited and may result in deleting comments or blocking of the user.
- Posting of unrelated material such as “spam”, illegal activities, items for sale, or other commercial solicitation on library social media accounts will be removed.
- The library does not intend to infringe on the freedom of speech, but users are expected to maintain the same code of conduct online that is expected and enforced for in-person behavior within library property.
- Reconsideration of social media posting or comment is subject to the same procedure as reconsideration of any other library materials or programming.
