Social Media Policy

Social Media Policy
Purpose:

This policy establishes guidelines for the use of Northeast Regional Library (NERL) social media sites as a means of engaging with patrons, promoting events and services, and showcasing the Library. NERL’s social media sites are not intended to be traditional public forums for the general exchange of ideas and viewpoints, but rather a limited forum for discussing Library-related information and content. The Northeast Regional Library has an overriding interest and expectation in deciding what is “spoken” on behalf of the Library on Library social media sites. The Northeast Regional Library is committed to the following:
  • Maintaining the highest levels of accuracy, objectivity, and impartiality in the information that we communicate.
  • Providing accessible and inclusive services.
  • Responding to questions and concerns.
  • Respecting freedom of speech and difference of opinion while protecting staff and users from offensive, abusive, racist, or otherwise inappropriate speech.
Definition of Social Media: For this policy, “social media” refers to electronic communication platforms through which users create or interact in online spaces to share information, ideas, personal messages, and other content. Social media includes any webpage or app through which NERL has an account and interacts with other users. Examples of social media include, but are not limited to, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, blogs, YouTube, and LinkedIn. For this policy, “comments” include information, articles, pictures, videos, or any other form of communicative content posted on an NERL social media site. Library Rights and Responsibilities: The Library assumes the following rights and responsibilities:
  1. All Northeast Regional Library social media sites are subject to administrative oversight by the Library Director or their designee.
  2. Library social media sites should clearly indicate that the Northeast Regional Library maintains them and that they adhere to the Library’s Social Media Policy.
  3. Wherever possible, Library social media sites should link back to the NERL website for forms, documents, online services, and other information necessary to conduct business with NERL.
  4. The Technology Coordinator will monitor content on the Library’s social media sites to ensure adherence to both the Library’s Social Media Policy and the Library’s interests and goals.
  5. The Library reserves the right to ask that any content deemed in violation of the Social Media Policy or any applicable law be removed.
  6. The Library will approach the use of social media tools consistently across all departments. The Northeast Regional Library’s website, nereg.lib.ms.us, will remain the Library’s primary and predominant internet presence.
  7. All Library social media sites shall adhere to applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulations, and policies.
  8. The Library shall not make comments on topics or issues that are not within the jurisdictional purview of NERL.
  9. Employees shall also adhere to any internal departmental policies regarding social media.
  10. Library staff should protect patron privacy and confidentiality whenever possible; however, the Library cannot guarantee the privacy of any patron using this service.
    1. The Library reserves the right to reproduce comments and posts that tag the Library in other public venues (e.g., testimonials). Reproductions of this nature may be edited by the Library for space or content, maintaining the original intent of the comment or post. By posting on the Library’s social media sites, users give the Library permission to use their name, profile picture, and the content of any posting without compensation to the user or liability on the part of the Library. This permission ends when the content is deleted.
    2. The Library will not collect, sell, or knowingly transfer to any third party any personally identifiable information related to social media engagement with the Library. We will share personal data with other institutions only as required by law.
    3. We ask all patrons, especially minors, who use our services on our website and social media sites to limit the amount of personal information they provide. We do not ask for more personal information from children than is necessary, and we encourage parents and caregivers to tell their children about the importance of (i) not revealing personal information online and (ii) asking for permission before giving their last name or personal information to any website.
    4. Please be advised that each social media platform has its own privacy policies, which should be carefully reviewed and adhered to.
  1. Responsibility for social media content engaged with by children and adolescents rests with the youth’s parents or legal guardians. The Library does not stand in loco parentis.
    1. Please be advised that each social media platform also has its own minimum age requirements for use, which should be carefully reviewed and adhered to.
  1. The social media content of a public library can be subject to an open records, or Freedom of Information Act, request. All users’ posts that are hidden for any reason shall be retained in accordance with the State of Mississippi’s retention schedule.