State Law Library Social Media

Social Media Defined

For the purposes of this policy, social media is defined as electronic, web-based technologies that allow instant, widespread, and interactive communication. Patrons choose these tools to get information when and how they want it. The Washington State Law Library (SLL) offers Facebook and LinkedIn social media channels.

Purpose and Goals

The SLL is committed to using social media to promote the library. The goal is to inform, educate, entertain, and provide customer service through timely dissemination of library news and information of interest to the library and legal community.

Disclaimers

User comments expressed on social media channels do not reflect the views or positions of the library or its employees. Social media users are expected to exercise their own judgment about the quality and accuracy of any information presented through social media.

Sharing of other social media profiles, media, or websites does not constitute an endorsement or guarantee of accuracy by the SLL.

Agency staff who share, follow, retweet, etc. from their personal social media accounts do so as private citizens, and not in their official capacity. Staff are prohibited from conducting state business or representing the agency on their personal social media accounts.

Copyright

The SLL will at all times attempt to follow copyright, fair use, and invasion of privacy laws.

Accessibility Guidelines

When posting images SLL will add text to explain what is in the image. For video, staff will add text that explains what the video is about.

Rules of Engagement

Commenting will be turned off for all social media channels that allow it.

In line with the SLL's goal to inform, educate, entertain, and provide customer service, all communication should be courteous and civil. The SLL reserves the right to delete submissions that contain:

1. Profanity.
2. Content that promotes, fosters, or perpetuates discrimination on the basis of race, creed, color, age, religion, gender, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, national origin, gender identity, sexual orientation, and/or disability.
3. Content that advocates illegal activity; or compromises safety or security of the public.
4. Content that promotes or advertises commercial services, entities, or products.
5. Content that supports or opposes political candidates or ballot propositions.

Communications to SLL on social media do not constitute official notice to SLL or any SLL personnel. General inquiries and reference questions should be directed to the library by phone at 360-357-2136 or by email at library.requests@courts.wa.gov.

Public Disclosure and Privacy Protection

Any content maintained on social media channels, including posted communication, is considered an administrative record subject to disclosure pursuant to General Rule (GR) 31.1. Public disclosure requests must be directed to the SLL Administrative Coordinator. See Administrative Records Requests Policy. Public records requests may not be made through social media.

The SLL will protect the privacy rights of its staff and patrons. No library administrator shall release information regarding an individual library patron's use of library materials or services without the consent of the patron. See RCW 42.56.310.