Purpose

This social media policy describes the Chicopee Public Library’s use of social media. Social Media is defined as any web application, website, or account created and maintained by the Chicopee Public Library (“the library”) for the purpose of sharing information with patrons and the public about library services, programs and activities, spaces, collections, and libraries in
general.

The library’s social media offerings are meant to create a welcoming online space for library users to find useful and entertaining information about our library and its activities. The library’s social media policy applies to all users of our social media sites, whether or not they are registered patrons of the Chicopee Public Library.

Rights of the Library

This Social Media Policy is not intended to supplement or replace other library policies. The library does not act in place of or in the absence of a parent and is not responsible for enforcing restrictions which a parent or guardian may place on a minor’s use of this resource.

Usage Rules

The Chicopee Public Library will post information about library activities to keep patrons informed and to provide patrons with the opportunity to provide feedback.

The library reserves the right to like, follow, and share content from other social media. In general, shared content will be from local governmental bodies and organizations but can also be from other entities that promote topics that align with the library’s mission and goals.

The Chicopee Public Library currently uses the following social media:
Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/chicopeelibraryma)
Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/chicopeelibrary/)

The descriptions or user profiles for library social media sites and accounts shall state that it is the “official [social media site/account] account for the Chicopee Public Library in Chicopee, MA.” The library will maintain a list of all official social media sites and accounts on its website:
chicopeepubliclibrary.org

The library is committed to ensuring that employee use of social media does not violate federal, state, privacy, copyright, defamation, or discrimination laws. The library is also committed to protecting its relationship with other organizations, its confidential and proprietary information, and to reflecting its professional status favorably.

Library staff are often available to respond to social media comments and questions during the library’s open hours but the library cannot guarantee a timely response to anything submitted through its social media accounts. The best way to contact library staff is by phone, chat, or email during the library’s regular hours of operation.

User Responsibility and Use Restrictions

Comments and messages are allowed on our social media but may be monitored for content.
Public posts made by users do not necessarily reflect the views of the Chicopee Public Library,
its employees, or the City of Chicopee.

The Library encourages and expects responsible and constructive social media use. The
Library’s social media provides a limited public forum with terms of use.

The library reserves the right to remove certain content:

• Not topically related to the library or its services
• Offensive language, hate speech, and commentary that promotes discrimination
• Personal attacks, insults, or threatening/defamatory language
• Libelous, slanderous statements and/or deliberately misleading statements
• Copyrighted or plagiarized material published without permission
• Private and/or personal information published without consent
• Commercial promotions, spam, or advertisements
• Organized political activity
• Violations, or potential violations, of local, state, or federal laws
• Illegal materials and the promotion of illegal activities
• Hyperlinks to material that is not directly related to the discussion

The library is not responsible or liable for content posted by any subscriber in any forum,
message board, or other area of social media.

In the interests of supporting free expression and exchange of ideas, the library will generally
refrain from deleting or hiding content posted or shared by members of the public. However, the
library, in its sole discretion, reserves the right to restrict or remove content that is deemed to be
in violation of this policy or any applicable federal, state, or local law, regulation, or policy. A
copy of any content that is removed or hidden shall be retained by the library along with a
description of the reason(s) the specific content was deleted. The library may, but is not
required to, notify the individual who posted the content of its removal and the rationale for its
deletion. Individuals who have concerns about the removal of posted content may contact the
Library Director.

A decision to block a user shall be made by the Library Director. Users may be blocked for
repeated or significantly inappropriate interactions with library social media, including but not
limited to:

• Repeatedly violating this policy or committing a serious one-time violation of this policy
• Refusing to follow library staff instructions or requests
• Sockpuppeting, or the use of multiple accounts and/or fake accounts to circumvent bans or manufacture disagreements or controversy
• Repeatedly spamming or posting content that is not related to topics under discussion and not relevant to the library, particularly in the absence of other, appropriate contributions
• Inappropriate behavior on social media that constitutes a continuation of offline behavior the user has previously been asked to cease by library staff or that has resulted in the user having been removed or banned from library premises.

Patrons who are blocked and/or who have had comments deleted may appeal the action, in writing, to the Director within 15 days. The Director will consult with the Board of Trustees and will affirm or reverse the decision, in writing, within 15 days of receiving the written appeal. This decision will be final and not subject to further review or appeal. A record of deleted posts will be retained by the Director for one year after removal.

A patron who has been blocked from the Library’s social media account may apply for reinstatement 45 days after the block is initiated by submitting a written request to the Director. By posting content, the user agrees to indemnify the Chicopee Public Library and its officers and employees from and against all liabilities, judgements, damages and costs (including attorney’s fees) incurred, which arise out of or are related to the posted content.

Library Staff Responsibilities

Professional Use

Only those Chicopee Public Library employees listed as managers/editors of the library’s social media pages should be using the sites during their work hours. The editors should present content in a professional manner including: checking facts, citing sources, avoiding copyright infringement, and acknowledging and correcting errors as necessary. Information that is shared by staff should be selected with the intention of meeting the diverse interests and needs of the community.

Social media platforms should not be used to collect information about the library’s users. Information shared by patrons on the library’s social media should not be kept by the library or used for other purposes.

Additionally, library employees are cautioned that speech made pursuant to official duties is not protected speech under the First Amendment. Content that is posted on library-sponsored social media sites is subject to the Freedom of Information Act and records retention.

Personal Use

In regard to personal use of social media, library employees have the same right to self-expression as members of the general public. Employees should consider the following when using social media:

• If you identify yourself as a library employee, make it clear that the views expressed are yours alone and do not represent the views of the library.
• You should never represent yourself as a spokesperson for the library unless you are a designated spokesperson for the library.
• Do not share confidential information or anything that is still in draft form.
• Do not make any negative, mocking, condescending, or inappropriate comments about patrons or patron behavior.
• The library does not endorse, monitor, or review the content of employee’s personal social media accounts and activity.
• Each employee is responsible for what they post online.
• Do not use the library logo or graphics in any way that might suggest to others that the library is endorsing the post.
• Do not post anything that identifies you as a library employee in what appears to be an illegal or immoral act, or in violation of City or Library policy even if it is done as a joke.
• Any improper use of the library’s social media platforms by a library employee shall lead to disciplinary action up to and including termination.

Approved by the Board of Library Trustees on 03/06/23