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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.