The Akron-Summit County Public Library utilizes numerous online platforms — including social networking websites and apps, blogs, and other social media tools — for informational, promotional, educational, cultural, civic, and recreational purposes. Library social media accounts provide a limited (or designated) public forum to facilitate the sharing of ideas, opinions, and information about library-related subjects and issues.
Library social media 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. The Library welcomes comments, posts, and messages from the community and recognizes and respects differences in opinion. Library staff regularly review comments, however, and the Library reserves the right to remove comments as described below. Violation of the Social Media Policy may result in warnings or restrictions on interactions with Library social media. Those who violate the Social Media Policy may also be subject to provisions of the Customer Behavior Policy.
Herein, “social media” 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 media formats include, but are not limited to, social networking websites and apps (such as Facebook and Instagram), blogs, and patron ratings of library materials.
Posts or comments on Library social media accounts or platforms containing the following are against Library rules and may be hidden or removed by Library staff:
- Harassing speech, oral or written, that, if severe and pervasive, would violate Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 or language that is vulgar, obscene, harassing, or libelous
- Attacks on any individuals or groups based on gender, disability, sexual orientation or identity, age, ethnicity, race, religion, or socio-economic status
- Specific threats of imminent violence or other unlawful acts
- Statements supporting or opposing a candidate for public office
- Solicitation of funds, except by the Library and ASCPL Friends of the Library groups
- Private or personal information, including phone numbers and addresses or requests for personal information
- Copyright violations
- Commercial material
- Off-topic comments
- Spam, such as duplicated posts from the same individual or links to unrelated, third-party websites
Adopted by the ASCPL Board of Trustees
January 25, 2024
