ALIA (Ltd)
Online Communication Guidelines

Aim

ALIA aims to encourage a supportive, tolerant, informative and creative forum for subscribers 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.

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.

Acceptable Use Policy

Subscribers to any 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

Subscribers must also agree to follow generally accepted principles of netiquette to respect the interests and rights of other participants. Violating any of the above is sufficient grounds for suspension and/or permanent removal from ALIA's online communication systems.

Posting 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

Privacy

The Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA) collects personal information when you sign onto any of its online communication systems. The information collected by ALIA includes email address, name (optional) 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.

Disclaimer

All messages posted to ALIA's online communication systems 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 nor for the conduct of any author posting to ALIA's online communication systems. Any subscriber who feels that a posted message is objectionable is encouraged to contact the author of the message in the first instance.

Copyright

Subscribers retain copyright to their individual postings. All subscribers should assume responsibility for all materials posted and ensure that a high standard of respect for copyright is observed.

Role Statement

List Owner means the Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA). List Manager means any person moderating or administering an ALIA elist. The List Owner (ALIA National Office & Executive Director) 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 List Manager 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.

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 posted message (via email and off list) and explain how their post contravenes ALIA's online communication guidelines.
2. If a resolution cannot be reached at this point, contact the List Manager (they are listed at http://alia.org.au/alianet/e-lists/). 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 subscriber 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.

Any subscriber, 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.

This operating policy was approved by the ALIA Board at its meeting on 5th August 2007 and will be reviewed at least every 4 years.