LIS 768

A clearly articulated policy for the use of social media within the library setting can guide the development of enhanced 2.0 services and serve as a means to handle unintended consequences.

Sharlyn Lauby writes at Mashable:

http://mashable.com/2009/06/02/social-media-policy-musts/

There are generally two approaches to social media policy making. Some organizations handle social media in an evolutionary way. Chad Houghton, the director of e-media and business development at the Society for Human Resource Management, told me that he thinks, “it might be beneficial not to create some arbitrary rules without first seeing where the opportunities and risks really are.”

Other organizations, meanwhile, feel more comfortable establishing a clear policy from the outset. IBM, for example, has published their social media guidelines publicly for anyone to read. It’s a great policy, though rather long.

Whether you’re writing your social media policy from the get-go, or letting it develop organically in reaction to situations as they arise, here are 10 things you should definitely consider. These 10 tips will help you steer clear of pitfalls and allow you to focus on what’s important: engaging the customer.

For this assignment, you will craft a draft version of a social media policy for the library setting of your choice. The policy should be no longer than two pages. Post it to your blog with a brief paragraph explaining your thinking and choices.

Use these links for inspiration:

http://www.biblioottawalibrary.ca/files/OPL%20social%20media%20policy.pdf

http://candidcio.com/2009/08/12/social-media-policy-and-employee-guidance/

http://www.hightechdad.com/2009/05/11/crafting-your-companys-social-media-policy/

http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA6699104.html

http://www.briansolis.com/2009/09/implement-social-media-guidelines-now/