I. General Policy

A. Content will be created by Roanoke Public Library staff to assist in fulfilling our mission of providing access to knowledge and information that will inform, educate and serve the Roanoke community. Much of the content will relate to libraries, books, and the book-publishing industry; and to programs, events, photos and/or images or special topics that the Library sponsored, held or is promoting.

B. Comments and postings from the public are allowed, but will be reviewed by Library staff for content. Appropriate comments and postings must be relevant to the content created by the Library staff. Library staff reserves the right to review all comments and postings and delete comments that are inconsistent comments or postings from postings any further information to the Library’s social networking sites. Comments or postings that fall within one of the following categories will be deleted by the Library staff.

a) Obscene, sexist, or racist content

b) Harassing Library staff or other social media users—harassing comments or postings include profane or obscene statements or images, threatening physical harm toward another person, and engaging in behavior with the sole intent of annoying another person.

c) Libelous and slanderous statements

d) Plagiarizing or posting copy-righted material without permission or authority.

e) Private, personal information of another person without appropriate consent or authority

f) Comments, postings, and/or hyperlinks not related to the content created by Library staff

g) Advertisements and solicitation that are prohibited by the Library Board of Trustees

h) Photos or other images that fall in any of the above categories

II. Roanoke Public Library’s Blog

The staff will, during normal hours of library operation, regularly review the Roanoke Public Library’s Blog for postings and comments and check for email notifications. Material that is deemed inappropriate for the blog based on the general policy criteria will be handled via deletion of the material. A blogger who has his or her posting deleted by the Library staff may appeal deletion, in writing, to the Library Board within 30 days after the deletion. The Library Board will affirm or reverse staff’s decision to delete a posting within 30 days after receiving the written appeal. The blog is written by the Library’s Director Celia Bandelier.

III. Facebook

A. The Facebook site will be monitored on a daily basis during normal hours of library operation, via review of the site and/or through email notifications. If a fan/friend posts content that is deemed in violation of the Library’s social media policy, the Library will delete the content in violation. The fan/friend whose comment(s) are removed will be sent a private alert message via Facebook informing them that their comment(s) were removed due to violations with the Library Social Networking Policy. The messages will restate the policy and also explain the consequences of the “three strike policy” for repeat violations. A fan/friend whose comments are removed for a second violation of the Library Social Networking Policy will receive a second, similar private alert message, and be notified that upon receiving a third violation of the policy, they will be removed as a fan/friend of the Library’s Facebook page. Upon a third violation of policy, they will be removed as a fan/friend of the Library Facebook page. Upon a third violation and removal of comment(s) the fan/friend will receive a message informing them that they are being removed as a fan/friend and they will be directed to Facebook site administrator for further information/clarification.

B. A Facebook user who has his or her posting or fan/friend status deleted by the Library staff may appeal the deletion, in writing to the Library Board of Trustees within 30 days after the deletion. The Library Board will affirm or reverse the staff’s decision to delete a posting within 30 days after receiving the written appeal. The Facebook page is maintained by the Library’s Director Celia Bandelier.

IV. Twitter

A. The Library Twitter site may follow: other public and academic libraries, special libraries such as the Library of Congress, librarians, publishers, bookstores, authors, new sources such as CNN and the New York Times; official sites of Roanoke, Huntington County and other government entities. Guidelines for whom to follow on Twitter will align with the philosophies found in the library’s collection development policy.

B. The Twitter site will be monitored on a regular basis during normal hours of library operation. If someone posts a message that is in violation of the Library’s Social Networking Policy then the Library will stop following the person who made the comment. A Twitter user who is no longer followed by the Library may appeal the decision, in writing, to the Library Board of Trustees within 30 days after the decision. The Library Board will affirm or reverse the staff’s decision within 30 days after receiving the written appeal. The Twitter page is maintained by the Library’s Director Celia Bandelier.

V. LinkedIn

The Library will accept invitation of other public and academic libraries, special libraries such as the Library of Congress, librarians, publishers, bookstores, authors, patrons, Roanoke community members and others as connections (and may issue invitations as it deems beneficial.) However, if the inviter is unknown the Library reserves the right to select “I don’t know”. A LinkedIn user who receives an “I don’t know” by the Library may appeal the decision, in writing, to the Library Board of Trustees within 30 days after the decision. The Library Board will affirm or reverse the staff’s decision within 30 days after receiving the written appeal. The Library does not take responsibility for any of the information posted by any of the Library’s connections. LinkedIn page is maintained by the Library’s Director Celia Bandelier.

VI. Records Retention

As per the State records retention policy, social networking records are defined as “Transitory Material” (of limited reference value, including general postings and comments, general correspondence, walls, feedback, and related records); or as “non-historic” and/or “duplicate” including press releases, photographs, public service announcements, notices of upcoming events or other related records). Thus such records are not required to be retained after administrative and/or reference value has been served. If the Library staff deletes a comment or posting, the Library will retain the deleted material for 30 days or the conclusion of the appeal process, whichever is longer.

VII. Agreement

By choosing to comment and/or utilize the above sites, users of the Roanoke Public Library’s social media sites agree to these rules.

Policy taken from the Glendale Public Library in Arizona.  Policy approved 11/16/2011