[WEB4LIB] Staff homepages

[Christopher Jackson]

Peter,

We spend a long time discussing this a little ways south of you (Monroe
County Public Library, Indiana), and ended up with the policy that
follows.  Briefly, we do allow staff pages, but only if they somehow
relate to the profession.  Let me know if you have any questions about it. 

Chris

    Christopher Jackson                      cjackson at monroe.lib.in.us	
    Reference Librarian                      voice: (812) 876-1272
    Monroe County Public Library             fax: (812) 876-2515
    Ellettsville, IN  47429                  http://www.monroe.lib.in.us/

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Guidelines for Hosting Non-Library Web Pages on the MCPL Web Server


Because Monroe County Public Library staff are encouraged to participate
in professional activities, MCPL permits staff to create web pages in
their individual user accounts on the library server.  These pages
represent staff members' professional pursuits and interests and are not
part of the official library website.  This arrangement benefits staff by
enabling them to publish information relating to their work in a stable
environment using familiar tools; it benefits MCPL to highlight the
professional activities and commitments of its employees; and it benefits
MCPL patrons to learn more about the professional practices of the people
who work for them.  

These pages are subject to the following guidelines:

-The pages must relate to libraries, librarianship, or personal goals in
the library field.  Examples of acceptable pages include the following: 
information of the sort that a staff member might seek to publish in a
library journal or magazine, such as original research or materials useful
to colleagues; information about professional organizations or activities
in which a staff member participates; personal information regarding a
staff member's professional accomplishments or goals.  Resumes/curricula
vitae are permitted so long as they do not provide salary requirements or
mention references.  A resume/c.v. page may identify that the person, for
example, conducts storytelling, does library consulting, or performs other
library related activities, but it should not give the impression that it
is a solicitation or offering of such services.  Examples of unacceptable
pages include:  personal pages that don't focus on professional issues;
pages that consist primarily of links to other websites not related to
librarianship or library issues;  pages, professional or otherwise, with a
for-profit motive.  Employees are expressly forbidden to post Web pages on
the library server that function solely to promote an independent
business. 

-Since Web pages stored in a staff member's individual Web account will
contain an address associated with the library, staff must consider how
these pages will reflect upon MCPL. In particular, staff must be sure
that their pages and associated links are reasonably current.  To help all
interested parties remain aware of the individual staff Web pages housed
on the library server, the address for new or substantially revised Web
pages must be posted to the e-mail distribution list for members of the
MCPL Web Committee.  Additionally, a directory page on the official MCPL
website will list all other public sites on the library server. 

-Apart from the base address, nothing in these pages should give the
impression that they are part of the library's website.  Each page should
provide contact information, including a name and e-mail address of an
individual to be contacted for more information. Additionally, the
"home" page of any non-MCPL sites on the library server must contain
either a disclaimer stating that the pages do not represent MCPL or an
"About this Page" link to a separate page which makes the relationship of
the site to MCPL clear.

- If any member of the Web Committee (which includes library Department
Heads and Administrators) believes that an individual's Web page conflicts
with the policy for staff use of the Web server, they may make a motion to
have the page removed by posting a message to the Web Committee e-mail
list, stating their reasons for questioning the appropriateness of the
page. All members of the Web Committee (as well as the author of the page
in question) are encouraged to share their opinions on whether or not the
page complies with the guidelines for staff use of the Web server. Seven
pre-designated members of the Web Committee--two library administrators, a
department head, the web administrator, and a member of Children's
Services, Adult Services, and the Ellettsville Branch--will then vote on
whether the page meets the guidelines. (If one of these 7 is unable to
participate or is the author of a page in question, a replacement will be
drafted from the other members of the Web Committee, which is open to any
interested staff.)  If the majority of the 7 voting members rules that the
page is not in compliance, it must be promptly removed from filespace
viewable by the public.

- If a staff member wants to create web pages that don't meet these
guidelines, they should do so somewhere besides the library's server.
There are many organizations that host websites for free, including
HoosierNet.  


























On Thu, 20 Aug 1998, Peter Konshak wrote:

> Hi Everyone!
> 
> I'm interested in possibly providing space on our webserver for staff to
> create their own "personal" homepages.  I see universities and other
> organizations do this all the time.  However, I have yet to see a public
> library doing this.  Obviously, there are issues such as content, amount of
> diskspace allowed, etc.  
> 
> Are there any public libraries out there doing this?  What sorts of
> policies do you have?  What kind of content do you allow?  Are there legal
> disclaimers (for example, "the library is not responsible for this
> content..")?  I'm interested in any feedback anyone might have!  Thanks,
> 
> Peter
> 
> 
> -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
> Peter Konshak                             pkonshak at carmel.lib.in.us
> Computer Technology Coordinator		
> Carmel Clay Public Library              http://www.carmel.lib.in.us
> -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
>