Social Media Policy

 

Portage County District Library recognizes the importance of the Internet in the exchange of ideas and information about our libraries. Portage County District Library is committed to promotion of our programs and services through the use of social media in the belief that participation in social media makes the Library more relevant and accessible to its users. The Library participates in various social media applications whereby library staff and community members can interact through virtual (Internet) communication. These resources allow all members of the community access to the Library without mandating a visit to the physical library. The Portage County District Library regards online social media applications in the same way as its other information resources in accordance with its mission of serving informational, educational, cultural, and recreational pursuits.

 

Social media is defined as any website or application which allows users to share information, including but not limited to blogs, wikis, and social networking sites (e.g. Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Flickr, LinkedIn, etc.) Through its interactions, PCDL will strive to facilitate an environment for library staff and users to share opinions and information about library-related subjects, events, and issues.

 

Many social networking sites allow users to become a “friend,” a “fan,” or otherwise associate their own profile or virtual presence with the Library’s profile on these sites. As with more traditional resources, PCDL does not act in place of or in the absence of a parent and is not responsible for enforcing any restrictions which a parent or guardian may place on a minor’s use of this resource.

 

The Library does not collect, maintain, or otherwise use the personal information stored on any third party site in any way other than to communicate with users on that site, unless granted permission by users for Library contact outside the site. Purposes for contact outside the site may include program promotion, volunteer opportunities, reference help, or other similar activities. Users may remove themselves at any time from the Library’s “friends” or “fans” lists, or may request that the Library remove them. Users should be aware that third party websites have their own privacy policies and should proceed accordingly.

 

Comments, posts, and messages are welcome on PCDL’s social networking sites. While PCDL recognizes and respects differences in opinion, all such interactions will be monitored and reviewed for content and relevancy on PCDL social networking sites, before publishing when possible. All postings which contain any of the following will be removed and the poster barred from posting any subsequent messages to PCDL sites:

• Obscene or racial content;
• Personal attacks, insults, bullying, or threatening language;
• Potentially libelous statements;
• Plagiarized or copy-written material;

 

• Private, personal information published without consent;
• Comments unrelated to the content of the forum;
• Hyperlinks to material that is not directly related to the discussion;
• Commercial promotions or spam;
• Organized political activity;
• Photos or other images that fall in any of the above categories.

 

PCDL reserves the right to edit or modify any postings or comments for space or content, while retaining the intent of the original post. The Library shall also be granted the right to reproduce comments, posts, and messages in other public venues. For example, a response to a posted book review may be quoted in a newspaper or on the Library website. Identifying information, other than first name, will be removed unless prior approval is granted by the user.

 

PCDL assumes no liability regarding any event or interaction that takes place by any participant in any Library-sponsored social networking service, and does not endorse or review content outside the “pages” created by PCDL staff. Participation in Portage County District Library’s social networking services implies agreement with all Library policies, including its Social Media, Internet Acceptable Use, and Wireless Network policies, and the Terms of Service of each individual third-party service. If a user does not agree to these terms, said user is not to use the service.

 

The role and utility of social networking sites will be evaluated periodically by library staff and may be terminated at any time without notice to subscribers.

 

Violations of this policy may be referred to the appropriate legal authorities.

 

Approved: October 18, 2012