Linwood Public Library, NJ

The Linwood Public 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, and websites by the Library and its employees, volunteers, and patrons.

Social Media Objective

The social media outlets supported by the Linwood Public Library are intended to assist in fulfilling our mission of connecting people with information, ideas, and enriching experiences. Social media is broadly defined as any web application, site or account created and maintained by the library which allows users to share or obtain information.

The content of our social media will be created by Linwood Public Library staff. Much of the content will relate to libraries, books, and other library related materials; as well as to library programs, events, photos and/or images, or special topics that the library is discussing or promoting. Positive interaction with community members will be promoted on our social media to foster an atmosphere of education and learning.

General Policy

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 permission is granted by users.

Comments and postings from the public are allowed, but will be reviewed by authorized library staff for content appropriateness. Library staff reserves the right to review all comments and postings and delete comments that are inconsistent with the content created by the library staff. Staff may block the person who posts inconsistent comments or other material from posting any further information to the library’s social media sites, but only after said person has received one warning that they are violating the policies contained herein.

Comments or postings that fall within any of the following categories will be deleted by library staff and/or lead to a warning and then a ban on posting by an individual who runs afoul of these guidelines:

• Engaging in behavior with the sole intent of harassing another person.
• Libelous statements.
• Plagiarizing or posting copy-righted material without permission or authority from the copyright holder, upon request of the copyright holder.
• Private, personal information of another person without appropriate consent or authority. Comments, postings, and/or hyperlinks not related to the content created by the library staff.
• Advertisement and solicitations not expressly permitted by the library.
• The library recommends against posting personal information to our social media platforms and is not responsible for personal information patrons post about themselves.
• Content that constitutes or encourages illegal activity
• Obscenity, profanity, or child pornography. Sexual content or links to sexual content
• 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 category protected by federal, state, or local laws
• Threats against the library, library staff, other users posting to library social media, or any other individual or organization
• Spam
• Information / Posts that are knowingly false
• Commercial or charitable solicitations, or advertising or sale of merchandise or services unrelated to library or city business
• Information that may tend to compromise the safety or security of the public
• Content that violates a legal ownership interest of any other person.
• Photos, videos or other images that fall in any of the above categories

Any personal information, photos or other media posted about persons under the age of 18 will be removed from our social media platforms. An exception is made for photos of library events posted by library staff where parental permission was given.

Any social media user who has been banned or had a message or content deleted may appeal this decision, in writing or email, to the Library Director. The Director may affirm or reverse the decision within 30 days of receiving the written appeal.

Only those library employees authorized by the Library Director to post to the library’s social media should be actively participating on those sites in addition to monitoring and maintaining all library social media for content, structure, and updates. Those employees shall not express any personal views or concerns through such postings.

Authorized library employees will strive to respond to direct messages within 48 business hours, but patrons will be instructed to call or visit the library with urgent or complex matters.