Plattekill Public Library

Social Media Use Policy

Proposed 30 June 2014 Adopted APRIL 14, 2016

Social Media Use Policy

Social Media is defined as: blogs, other types of self-published online journals, and collaborative web-based discussion forums including, but not limited to, LinkedIn, Facebook, MySpace and Twitter.

Rules and Guidelines

I. General Rules and Guidelines

The following rules and guidelines apply to the use of social media, whether such use is for the Plattekill Public Library on library time, for personal use during non-work time, outside the workplace or during working time while using Employer owned equipment.

These rules and guidelines apply to all employees.

Employees are prohibited from discussing confidential, work-related matters through the use of social media. Employees also have a duty to protect employees' home addresses and other personal information and the confidentiality of Plattekill Public Library trade secrets, marketing lists, patron account information, strategic business plans, patron lists, financial information, business contracts, and other proprietary and nonpublic library information.

Employees cannot use social media to harass, threaten, libel or slander, malign, defame, or discriminate against co-workers, managers, patrons, clients, vendors or suppliers, any organizations associated or doing business with the Plattekill Public Library, or any members of the public, including website visitors who post comments.

This policy is not intended, nor shall it be applied, to restrict employees from discussing their wages, hours and working conditions.

II. Employer-Sponsored Social Media

Plattekill Public Library’s sponsored social media is used to: convey information about library products and services; advise patrons about library updates; obtain patron feedback; exchange ideas or trade insights about library trends; reach out to potential new markets; provide use and marketing support to raise awareness of Plattekill Public Library’s brand; issue or respond to breaking news, or respond to negative publicity; brainstorm with employees and patrons; and discuss library specific activities and events.

All such Plattekill Public Library-related social media is subject to the following rules and guidelines, in addition to rules and guidelines set forth above:

Only employees designated and authorized by the Plattekill Public Library can prepare content for or delete, edit, or otherwise modify content on employer- sponsored social media.

Employees cannot post any copyrighted information where written reprint permission is not obtained in advance.

Designated employees are responsible for ensuring that the employer-sponsored social media conform to all applicable library rules and guidelines. These employees are authorized to remove immediately and without advance warning any content, including offensive content such as pornography, obscenities, profanity, and/or material that violates employer’s EEO and/or anti-harassment policies.

Library employees who want to post comments in response to content must identify themselves as employees.

III. Personal Use of Social Media

The following rules and guidelines, in addition to the rules and guidelines set forth in section 1 above, apply to employee use of social media on the employee’s personal time.

Employees who utilize social media and choose to identify themselves as employees of the Plattekill Public Library are strongly encouraged to state explicitly, clearly, and in a prominent place on the site that their views are their own and not those of the Plattekill Public Library or of any person or organization affiliated or doing business with the Plattekill Public Library.
Employees cannot use the Plattekill Public Library’s logo or trademarks or the name, logo, or trademarks of any business partner, supplier, vendor, affiliate, or subsidiary on any personal blogs or other online sites unless their use is sponsored or otherwise sanctioned, approved, or maintained by the Plattekill Public Library.
Employees cannot post Plattekill Public Library’s copyrighted or confidential information.

IV. Employer Monitoring

Plattekill Public Library reserves the right to monitor employees’ use of social media including but not limited to statements/comments posted on the Internet, in blogs and other types of openly accessible forums, diaries, and personal and business discussion forums.

Employees should have no expectation of privacy while using library equipment and facilities for any purpose, including the use of social media. Plattekill Public Library reserves the right to monitor, review, and block content that violates the Plattekill Public Library‘s rules and guidelines.

V. Violations

Plattekill Public Library will investigate and respond to all reports of violations of these rules and guidelines or related library policies or rules. Employees are urged to report any violations of this policy to the Library Director. A violation of this policy may result in discipline up to and including termination of employment.