Canadian Association of Professional Academic Librarians (CAPAL) Social Media Policy

Introduction

The Canadian Association of Professional Academic Librarians (CAPAL)/ L’association Canadienne des bibliothécaires en enseignement supérieur (ACBES) considers social media communications as an essential element of strategic communication.
The following guidelines have been developed to protect the privacy of volunteers and members of CAPAL, and to serve them as a reference when needed. These guiding principles apply to all volunteers, members, and stakeholders.
CAPAL respects and encourages free speech and diversity of thought. The purpose of these guidelines does not, in any way seek to infringe upon or limit those expressions. All information is subject to change, as social media is an ever-changing landscape.

CAPAL’s Social Media Channels

CAPAL’s social media channels include forms of online publishing and discussion, including a blog, file sharing, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and LinkedIn.
The Canadian Association of Professional Academic Librarians (CAPAL) respects the legal rights of its members, volunteers, and stakeholders. However, given the public nature of CAPAL’s social media channels and platforms, there will always be non-members/non-stakeholders who will visit and participate in these sites, forums, and discussions. Such participation, of course, is welcome as a means of sharing experiences, suggesting improvements, etc.
While not held to the same standards and guidelines as CAPAL volunteers, members and stakeholders, non-members/non-stakeholders should be expected to abide by certain codes of behaviors with appropriate actions to be taken against those in violation of such codes.

CAPAL’s Social Media Code of Conduct for Members and Non-Members

By participating in CAPAL’s social media (forums, discussions, blogs, etc.), public users agree they will not do the following:

  • Post material that CAPAL determines is threatening, harassing, illegal, obscene, defamatory, libelous, or hostile towards any individual or entity.
  • Post phone numbers or email addresses of themselves or any other individual or entity in the body of their comments.
  • Post material that infringes on the rights of CAPAL or any individual or entity, including privacy, intellectual property, or publication rights. This includes the improper use of (but is not limited to) images, logos, videos, content, documents, white papers, etc.
  • Post material that promotes or advertises a commercial product or solicits business or membership or financial or other support in any business, group or organization.
  • Post chain letters, post the same comment multiple times, or otherwise distribute SPAM.
  • Allow any other individual or entity to use their identification for posting or viewing comments.
  • Post comments under multiple names or using another person’s name.

If a user is found to be in violation of any of these standards, CAPAL reserves the right to do any or all the following:

  • Ban future posts from people who repeatedly violate CAPAL’s terms and conditions. Such bans may be affected by refusing posts from specific email addresses or through other means as necessary.
  • Remove or edit comments at any time if they violate these terms and conditions.

CAPAL’s Social Media Guidelines

The Canadian Association of Professional Academic Librarians (CAPAL) is committed to being honest, sensitive, and receptive through our social media engagement.

  • CAPAL encourages members, volunteers, and the public to express their thoughts and opinions. However, communications that are offensive to the online community, including blatant expressions of bigotry, racism, abuse, vulgarity, profanity, or violence are not acceptable and will be removed.
  • CAPAL acknowledges and welcomes constructive criticism and open debate, however, we reserve the right to remove personal attacks against users or authors. We reserve the right to remove statements that are perceived as threatening, harassing, bullying, defaming, or obscene.
  • CAPAL respects the privacy of members, volunteers, and of the public, and we do not share personally identifiable information through CAPAL’s communication platforms.
  • CAPAL is committed to not like, link, post, repost, tweet or retweet political positions, religious content, derogatory information, content that promotes discrimination, information that may compromise safety, content that promotes illegal activities or petitioning or solicitation of organizations, groups, or individuals.
  • CAPAL communications are gender neutral and inclusive and use language that reflects this in its social media posts.
  • CAPAL’s social media channels and blog are not platforms to promote any business or commercial products.
  • CAPAL’s social media channels are monitored by members of the Communications Committee. Please be aware that these are volunteer positions, and it may occasionally take some time to triage a response.
  • Inappropriate messages will be addressed as quickly as possible and potentially removed, if necessary. This includes but are not limited to offensive statements, inaccurate information, vulgar language, or unconstructive criticism.
  • CAPAL reserves the right to shift the settings of their accounts to a review and approve model at any time if deemed necessary in response to expressed queerphobic comments/posts, trolling, harassment, bullying, etc.

References

1 Association of Fundraising Professionals