Social software policy for Multnomah County Library users

Adopted 09.5.2008

Policy

Multnomah County Library offers blogs, community reviews, patron comments and other social software tools for educational, cultural, civic and recreational purposes. Library social software tools provide a limited (or designated) public forum to facilitate the sharing of ideas, opinions and information about library-related subjects and issues. Library social software is intended to create a welcoming and inviting online space where library users will find useful and entertaining information and can interact with library staff and other library users. Comments are moderated by library staff and the library reserves the right to remove comments that are unlawful or off topic. Violation of the Social Media Policy may result in warnings or exclusions according to the Library Behavior Rules.

Definition of Social software

Social software is defined as any web application, site or account offered by the library that facilitates the sharing of opinions and information about library related subjects and issues.

Social software includes such formats as blogs, listservs, websites, social network pages or posts to community reviews and patron ratings of library materials.

Rules for commenting

Protect your privacy. Do not post personally identifying information. Young people under age 18, especially, should not post information such as last name, school, age, phone number, address.

Posts containing the following are against library rules and will be deleted before posting or removed by library staff:

  1. Copyright violations
  2. Off topic comments
  3. Commercial material/spam
  4. Duplicated posts from the same individual
  5. Obscene posts
  6. Specific and imminent threats
  7. Libelous comments
  8. Images

By choosing to comment you agree to these rules.