At its April 10, 2023 Board Meeting, the Board of the Bethlehem Area Public Library adopted a social media policy. The full text of the policy is below.
BAPL SOCIAL MEDIA POLICY
PURPOSE
The Bethlehem Area Public Library (the “BAPL”) shares information about the library with the community and engages patrons through social media. The use of a BAPL social media platform is a privilege, and not a right.
DEFINITION
Social media is defined as any form of electronic communication platform or application through which users share information, ideas, and other content such as pictures and videos on a publicly accessible platform. Examples include social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, and TikTok, but not personal e-mail accounts.
GUIDELINES
BAPL social media accounts are not intended to provide a traditional public forum for the general exchange of ideas and viewpoints. Rather, they are intended to provide a limited public form for discussing library services, resources, events, news, programs and other library related topics as determined by the BAPL Library Director or designee. All posts and comments will be monitored by BAPL staff members, and the BAPL reserves the right, within its sole discretion, to remove submissions, comments, posts, or other content that violate this policy. All comments, posts, or content posted on a BAPL social media account must be related to the issue or topic being discussed. Further, the following is prohibited and subject to removal:
- Comments that contain illegal, obscene, abusive, vulgar, threatening, or harassing language.
- Duplicate posts from the same individual.
- Non-BAPL created solicitations for membership, donations, or services.
- Content that violates copyright or trademark laws.
- Spam and advertisements or solicitations for sale of merchandise or services.
- “Spam” includes unsolicited digital communication that is posted or sent, either manually or automatically, at very high frequencies.
- Political campaigning.
By utilizing or posting on the BAPL’s social media accounts, a user agrees to comply with this policy. BAPL reserves the right to ban and/or block a user who violates the terms of this policy.
BAPL is not responsible for the content of postings by third parties on any BAPL social media and do not reflect the views or positions of the BAPL, its directors, officers, or employees.
APPEAL PROCEDURES
A user who has had a comment and/or posting removed from a BAPL social media controlled site may request to have the decision reviewed by the Board of Directors of the Library. The request must be made in writing and submitted to the Library Director within thirty (30) days of the removal, at 11 W. Church Street, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania 18018.