Halton Hills Public Library is a safe space that welcomes engagement, encourages open dialogue, celebrates constructive communication, and engages followers on social media platforms. HHPL believes public feedback is essential in strengthening democracy and communication in Halton Hills.

Halton Hills Public Library is committed to using social media to provide a venue for meaningful and engaging communication between community members, library users, partner organizations and library staff.

Social media is defined as any web application, site or account created and maintained by Halton Hills Public Library that facilitates an environment for library staff and library users to engage and share opinions and information about library related subjects or community issues. HHPL recognizes and respects differences in opinion.

This policy describes how Halton Hills Public Library uses social media channels in a manner consistent with HHPL’s mission, vision and values.

Policy

The Halton Hills Public Library’s Social Media Policy applies to the Library’s social media use on all HHPL owned social media accounts and official platforms. This policy applies to all Library staff who post on behalf of HHPL.

The same standards, policies and guidelines apply to online and social media as all other forms of Library communication. Library staff will strive to create a social media presence that is consistent with the Library’s vision, mission and core values. Social media provides a forum for promoting the free exchange of ideas which the Library will continue to encourage. However, content that contravenes our Code of Conduct, the Ontario Human Rights code, the Criminal Code of Canada, Copyright Act, Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act or any other legislation will be hidden or removed immediately.

The Library reserves the right to edit or modify submissions when reposting or providing comment.

Being followed by the Library on any social media platform or content posted by other parties on Library social media channels does not imply the Library’s endorsement.

Use of Library social media channels is conditional on the user's agreement to observe this policy.

By continuing to engage on the Library’s social media, the user indicates agreement to all requirements of this policy.

Comments, posts and messages are welcome on the Library’s social media sites, provided they do not contain:

  • Profanity, defamatory, libelous, offensive, abusive, discriminatory, harassing, obscene, racist or demeaning content, including images, videos and links;
  • Language that is threatening, insulting or constitutes a personal attack;
  • Language that condones violent, bad or illegal behaviour or encourages others to do so;
  • Use of personal information such as names of individuals, email addresses, phone numbers, personal photos or videos;
  • Confidential, sensitive or non-public information;
  • Content that violates copyright or intellectual property;
  • Content that is commercial in nature with intent to sell products/services or recruit followers;
  • All content that contains information that is false, inaccurate or misleading;
  • Information that is repetitive or disruptive to the community (i.e. SPAM) or the social media platform’s Terms and Policies;
  • Commenting or posting content that is unrelated to the page or post; and
  • Any content that has the potential to become or be considered inflammatory, regarding certain topics (e.g., politics, religion).

All social media sites affiliated with the library will be regularly screened. All postings which contain any of the above will be immediately hidden or removed. In addition, the poster can be barred from posting any subsequent messages to Library social media sites. Staff will not respond to any such postings.

As with more traditional resources, the Library does not act in place of or in the absence of a parent. The Library is not responsible for enforcing any restrictions that a parent or guardian may place on a minor’s use of social media.

Halton Hills Public Library will never use information shared through its social media for commercial purposes nor will it share this information with third parties unless required by law.

By interacting with the Halton Hills Public Library social media channels, the user agrees to:

  • Be respectful towards all users of the site
  • Abide by the Terms of Use for the company hosting the site
  • Not impersonate or falsely claim to represent a person or an organization.

By posting content, the user agrees to indemnify Halton Hills Public Library and its officers and employees from and against all liabilities, judgments, damages and costs (including attorney's fees) incurred by any of them which arise out of or are related to the posted content. Forums and messaging may not be used for commercial purposes or for organized political activity. If any user does not agree to these terms, they are not to use the service, as violation of the terms can lead to legal liability.

Approved: April 2022
Next Scheduled Review: 2024