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Library Policies

 

Chester Public Library Social Media Policy

Approved by the Chester Public Library Board of Trustees May, 16, 2023

The Library will utilize social media tools to encourage community involvement and to create a dialog between the Library and its patrons regarding library services, resources, events and programs. The Chester Public Library does not endorse the views or advertisements promoted on any social media site. The views or advertisements of the public or an individual posting to this page are their own and do not represent the views of the library or its staff.

 Library Staff Responsibilities

It is expected that all content on Library sponsored Social Media (or done by Library staff on Library work time on community software) will be professionally presented. Writers and content contributors should check facts, cite sources, avoid copyright infringement, present balanced views, acknowledge and correct errors, and check spelling and grammar before making a post live.

Writers are expected to put a “best foot forward” on the Library activities they discuss online. When Library staff members speak or write on the job, online or elsewhere, they are speaking for the Library, and the content they provide should present the Library positively.

Library administration reserves the right to review content before it is posted and to modify, remove or prohibit any messages or postings that it deems to be inappropriate. The following content shall be avoided by library staff writers:

  • Personal attacks, insults or threatening language
  • Libelous and/or defamatory statements
  • Plagiarized materials
  • Private and personal information
  • Comments unrelated to the content of the forum, and/or hyperlinks to material not directly related to the discussion
  • Commercial promotions or spam
  • Information shared with library staff and stakeholders that is in draft form or is pending publication

Staff members with questions about the appropriateness of content they are considering posting will review their work with the Library Director before making the content live. The Library Director will make decisions based on this policy.

Personal Social Media Activity

  • Views expressed are those of the individual alone and do not represent the views of the employer. Library personnel expressing such views must not identify themselves as associated with the Library.
  • No posting of information that has been shared with staff but is still in draft form and pending publication is allowed.

Public Comments and Posts

Public posts are monitored and managed by the Chester Public Library staff. Comments, posts, and messages are allowed on the Library's social networking sites as long as they conform to this Policy.

  • The Library is not responsible for user-generated content. A posted comment is the opinion of the user only, and publication of a comment does not imply endorsement or agreement by the Chester Public Library.
  • Spam and commercial content will be removed. The Library will remove posts or comments used for campaigns, political, religious, or commercial purposes, or for soliciting funds.
  • Gratuitous links to sites are viewed as spam and will result in the removal of the comment.
  • Individuals should not post anything that they do not have the right to post.
  • The Library follows a notice and takedown procedure for complaints of copyright violation under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act.
  • Posts containing obscene, specific or imminent threats, or hate speech are strictly prohibited and will be deleted. Individuals are fully responsible for libelous or defamatory comments.
  • No harassing, stalking, or unlawful behavior will be tolerated.
  • Posts that discriminate on the basis of ethnicity, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age or disability are prohibited and will be removed.
  • Users may report concerns. The Library staff will respond to those concerns as soon as possible.

The Library Director or designee shall ensure that the Library’s social networking sites are regularly monitored. Staff members responsible for monitoring content may remove posts, based on viewpoint-neutral considerations in accordance with this Policy.

Responding to Public Posts

The Library staff is responsible for monitoring and responding to public comments, posts, and questions. Library staff and representatives are to remain neutral in library related posts and in response to questions – offering resources for information that help people to make informed decisions.