Social Media Policy

Social media is defined as any web application, site, or account created, maintained, and/or used by the Otto Bruyns Public Library.  Library social media offerings are intended to create a welcoming and inviting online space where library users will find useful and entertaining information. In some forums, users may be able to interact with library staff and other library users.

Social Media refers to community created content sites such as blogs, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, social networks, and other content sharing sites, including. All material created by the library must be maintained and approved by the Library Director.

Usage

The Otto Bruyns Public Library welcomes the comments, posts, and messages of the community and recognizes and respects differences in opinion. However, Library social media pages are not public forums and are monitored and managed by the Library Director. Comments, posts, and messages are allowed on the Library’s social media pages, as long as they conform to the Library’s Social Media Policy. All comments, posts, and messages will be periodically reviewed, and the Otto Bruyns Public Library reserves the right to, but is not required to, remove any comment, post, or message that it deems inappropriate or off-topic. The Library is not responsible for or liable for any content posted by any participant in a Library social media forum who is not a member of the Library’s staff.

When interacting with the public, the Library:

• seeks to promote community engagement and discussion.
• is not responsible for the content of public comments.
• is not obligated to, but reserves the right to delete offensive, abusive, or inappropriate comments.
• will not engage in discussion of a religious, political, or personal nature.
• reserves the right to edit or modify any postings or comments for space or content, while retaining the intent of the original post.

Users should have no expectation of privacy in postings on Library sponsored social media sites; by using such sites, you consent to the Library’s right to access, monitor, and read any postings on those sites. Users must understand that social media is permanent, retrievable, and public. Messages can potentially be read by anyone once posted, regardless of status on friends, follower, or subscriber lists. The Library recommends that users do not post their personal information or contact information on social media sites. By posting on the library’s social media site, the user gives the Library permission to use or reference the content of any post made, without compensation or liability on the part of the library.

A public user may be blocked from commenting on Library social media due to repeated offensive, abusive, or inappropriate comments, at the discretion of Library Director.

Content containing any of the following will be removed immediately upon discovery from any Otto Bruyns Public Library social media page:

• Obscene content, hate speech, sexual content or links to sexual content
• Personal attacks, insults, or threatening language
• Private or personal information, including phone numbers and addresses, or requests for personal information
• Potentially libelous statements
• Falsification of identity
• Plagiarized material
• Comments, links, or information unrelated to the purpose of the forum
• Spam or other commercial, political, or religious messages unrelated to the Library or its social media postings
• Solicitation of funds
• Any images, links, or other content that falls into the above categories

The Library reserves the right to ban or block users who have posted or commented in violation of this policy.

Adopted: September 10, 2026