ALIA (Ltd)
Online Communication Guidelines

Aim

ALIA aims to encourage a supportive, tolerant, informative and creative forum for users to participate in the discussion of professional issues in the LIS sector. The aim of all Australian Library and Information Association's (ALIA) online communication systems is to facilitate discussion and promotion of professional issues and practice relating to the Library and Information industry in Australia.

Scope

These guidelines apply to all communications where ALIA is being represented. This includes: e-lists, Blogs, Wikis, Facebook pages, Twitter, Youtube, Linked-in accounts and all other social media.

Membership

ALIA's online communication systems are available to all ALIA members and individuals interested in the Australian LIS industry. Other interested groups and individuals (including members of other professional bodies) are welcome to participate in these online communication systems.

Managers / moderators of any ALIA related online media must be an ALIA member; recognise that they represent ALIA and its members, and be available to be contacted by users.

Acceptable Use Policy

Users of ALIA's online communication systems must agree to not post any material which:

• uses obscene language
• harasses, insults or attacks others
• is defamatory
• involves or advocates illegal activities
• violates human rights
• displays offensive and pornographic images
• portrays any person in a demeaning manner
• or otherwise violates any law

Users / posters must also agree to follow generally accepted principles of netiquette to respect the interests and rights of other participants. http://www.albion.com/netiquette/corerules.html

Branding

All managers/moderators of social media must ensure that ALIA related media are named and branded appropriately. All content must display the ALIA name and (star) logo, and be linked from the ALIA webpage. Please check with National Office if unsure about applying the ALIA brand.
http://www.alia.org.au/publishing/logos/

Copyright

Always reference work appropriately, and ensure before publishing online that you have the right to use something with attribution. Users retain copyright to their original individual postings. All users should assume responsibility for materials posted and ensure that a high standard of respect for copyright is observed.

Posting, Sending & Responding to Messages

Messages posted to ALIA's online communication systems must comply with the above rules of use and should also:

• Provide identification of poster including name and email address
• Reference relevant prior posts when replying to a message
• Information from commercial providers or their representatives about products, services or events must not be posted direct to ALIA e-lists. It is a requirement that such requests be assessed on a case by case basis by ALIA National Office and must include a significant benefit to ALIA members.
• ALIA e-lists and social media are not to be used to advertise vacant positions. ALIA offers an online employment advertising service via our employment pages - http://www.alia.org.au/employment and the dedicated employment e-list - http://lists.alia.org.au/mailman/listinfo/recruitlis (maintained by the National Office Publishing Team)
• Messages sent to e-lists which advertise vacant positions will be rejected, and the author contacted with details on how one can best utilise ALIA's employment services to reach a wider range of candidates.
• Posts with professional relevance (e.g. free events, reports etc) to members may be advertised on ALIA e-communication platforms
• Events that do not clearly indicate a significant benefit to ALIA Members e.g. offer an ALIA Member discount may not be advertised on ALIA's e-communication platforms, unless a formal agreement or Memorandum of Understanding is in place with the company or organisation
• The ALIA Executive Director (or National Office delegate) may request any message or advertisement to be removed from an ALIA e-list that does not comply with ALIA's values and demonstrate benefits to members.

Violating any of the above is sufficient grounds for suspension and/or permanent removal from ALIA's online communication systems.

Privacy

The Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA) may collect personal information when you sign onto its online communication systems. Information collected by ALIA may include email address, name and password. ALIA's use of this information is guided by its privacy statement. ALIA reserves the right to disclose your information when required by law or in the event of a complaint or legal action arising from any message posted by you.

Users are reminded to respect and protect any information which may be deemed as confidential or personal.

Role Statement

The Australian Library and Information Association will:

• Apply and review ALIA policies and guidelines for ALIA's online communication systems.
• Ensure that all users of ALIA's system(s) acknowledge these guidelines by agreeing to abide by ALIA's policies and rules.

The Manager / moderator will:

• Monitor activities on ALIA online communication systems to ensure proper use.
• Review or delete any comments that do not comply with ALIA's online communication guidelines
• Ensure that all login IDs and passwords are maintained by two ALIA members, and register this information with ALIA National Office.

Handling Complaints

Anyone who wishes to lodge a complaint regarding the content of a particular posting should observe the following procedure:

1. Contact the author of the offending material and explain how their post contravenes ALIA's online communication guidelines.
2. If a resolution cannot be reached at this point, contact the appropriate media moderator / manager. Report the complaint via email, indicating how the content of a particular post contravenes ALIA's Online Communication Guidelines and any other information that might be relevant. The List Manager will contact the person responsible for posting the material in order to seek a resolution. If a resolution cannot be reached, the List Manager will forward all information regarding the complaint to the List Owner.
3. ALIA will review the complaint and if a satisfactory outcome cannot be reached, the ALIA Executive Director will decide on a resolution. All decisions made by the ALIA Executive Director will be provided to the ALIA Board of Directors, to the List Manager, the person responsible for material and to the user who originally made the complaint.
4. Appeals can be made to the ALIA Executive Director in writing, along with the original complaint and the ALIA decision. The ALIA Executive Director will forward the appeal to the ALIA Board of Directors, who will make a final decision regarding the complaint.
5. Any user who persistently ignores ALIA's online communication guidelines may have their access to ALIA's online communication systems removed. ALIA will also investigate complaints received from both internal and external sources about any unacceptable use of ALIA's online communication systems.
6. If you witness illegal, unsafe or unethical conduct by an ALIA member or volunteer, do not discuss this in ALIA social media or e-lists. Instead, contact ALIA National Office directly to report this behaviour - enquiry@alia.org.au (02) 6215 8222

Disclaimer

All messages posted to ALIA's online communication systems, and under ALIA auspices reflect the views of the author, not the views of ALIA or any entity associated with it, unless ALIA is specifically identified as the author of the communication. ALIA is not responsible for the content of messages posted and nor for the conduct of any author posting to ALIA's online communication systems. Any user who feels that a posted message is objectionable is encouraged to contact the author of the message in the first instance.

This updated operating policy was approved by the ALIA Executive Director in October, 2010.