Policies

Western Kentucky University Libraries Blog Policies, Guidelines and Procedures*
November 1, 2005
UL Blog Planning Task Force
Revised March 25, 2013

Mission of the University Libraries

The mission of WKU Libraries is to support the quest for knowledge, understanding, creativity, and innovation.

Goals of the University Libraries Blog
The goal of the University Libraries Blog is to provide the Libraries’ patrons timely and useful information about its services, resources, and its community outreach events and projects. It aims at increasing patrons’ interest in the Libraries’ web sites and patrons’ interaction with librarians and staff.

Policies, Guidelines, and Procedures for the University Libraries Blog

The University Libraries Blog follows WKU’s blogging policies and guidelines, its IT World Wide Web Publishing Policy, its Computing Ethics Policy, and the WKU Libraries’ Web Publishing Policies, Procedures and Guidelines.

1. Blog Manager and Bloggers

The University Libraries Blog is managed by the Blog Manager Haiwang Yuan, Coordinator of Web & Emerging Technologies, assisted by the University Libraries’ Bloggers. By definition here Bloggers are those from the University Libraries who have registered and been given the permission to blog for the Libraries.

Significant decisions are subject to the review by the Library Leadership Council (LLC) and approval by the Dean of Libraries.

2. Personal Bloggers

By definition, they are the owners of personal blogs, which will be considered for inclusion as part of the University Blog if they provide timely, useful, accurate, and professional information that adds to the Libraries’ resources and services and reflects positively on the University Libraries.

Personal Bloggers must be affiliated with the WKU Libraries, or invited guests, such as members of the WKU community.

3. Content

Quality contents are essential to the success of University Libraries Blog, and graphics and other multimedia will be used as needed.

4. Acceptable Use

Those who blog (bloggers) are required to check facts, present balanced views, acknowledge and correct errors, and check spelling and grammar before actual posting. While quotes from related websites and blogs are encouraged, bloggers are expected to cite their sources properly.

In addition, bloggers are encouraged to accept the following as common sense:

  • Make it clear that the views expressed in the blog are yours alone and do not necessarily represent the views of your employer.
  • Respect the institution’s confidentiality and proprietary information.
  • Ask your manager if you have any questions about what is appropriate to include in your blog.
  • Be respectful to the institution, employees, customers, partners, and competitors.
  • Understand when the institution asks that topics not be discussed for confidentiality or legal compliance reasons.
  • Ensure that your blogging activity does not interfere with your work commitments.**

5. Feedback Comment System

Caution will be exercised when activating the feedback comment system that allows patrons to post their comments on a blog article or “thread.” Comments are open to patrons only when consider necessary. Comments should be relevant to the specific blog post they are attached to and be monitored. Spam, flaming, personal attacks, and off-topic comments are not permitted. Efforts will be made to prevent individuals repeatedly violating these requirements.

6. Blog Categories

University Libraries Blog Manager creates Blog categories. Members of the WKU community may submit suggestions for categories to the Blog.

7. Blogroll and Links

The UL Blog will link to the web pages of key University Libraries services and resources. Other links to websites and/or blogs may be included in the University Libraries Blog if they help achieve its goals, as are described in this document.

8. Copyright

WKU Libraries reserves the copyright of the content on the University Libraries Blog. A Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 2.5 License*** also governs the content.

9. Branding and Marketing
University Libraries Blog must have “WKU Libraries” text and contact information. A link to the University Libraries Blog must be prominently placed on the Libraries’ Web home page and relevant pages for access and marketing purposes.

The University Libraries Blog Manager will collaborate with the Marketing Coordinator to market the Libraries’ events and projects on the blog.
Haiwang Yuan
University Libraries Blog Manager
Coordinator of Web & Emerging Technologies

Notes:

* This WKUL Blog Policies & Procedures was adapted from St. Petersburg College Library Blog Policy, http://www.spcollege.edu/central/libonline/book_image/SPCLBpolicystatement.htm.

** Charlene Li’s Sample Corporate Blogging Policy, http://forrester.typepad.com/charleneli/2004/11/blogging_policy.html

*** Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 2.5 License, 2.5/http://creativecommons.org/licenses/bysa/

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