<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:m="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40">
<head>
<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=us-ascii">
<meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 14 (filtered medium)">
<style><!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:Calibri;
panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:Tahoma;
panose-1:2 11 6 4 3 5 4 4 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:"Brush Script MT";
panose-1:3 6 8 2 4 4 6 7 3 4;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";}
a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:blue;
text-decoration:underline;}
a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:purple;
text-decoration:underline;}
span.EmailStyle17
{mso-style-type:personal;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:windowtext;}
span.EmailStyle18
{mso-style-type:personal-reply;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D;}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
font-size:10.0pt;}
@page WordSection1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}
--></style><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapedefaults v:ext="edit" spidmax="1026" />
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapelayout v:ext="edit">
<o:idmap v:ext="edit" data="1" />
</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]-->
</head>
<body lang="EN-US" link="blue" vlink="purple">
<div class="WordSection1">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D">Nannette,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D">First, if someone is actually making threatening posts on Facebook or any other web site, the patron should contact the local, county or state police and report the threats. The patron can also contact Facebook
and report the profile of the person allegedly making the threats. Most libraries have Internet Use Policies that prohibit patrons from using the computers for illegal purposes. But I think you would want some proof that such activity is both illegal and happening
on library computers before taking any action against a patron. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D">Second, unless the person observed the activity happening on the library’s computer, there’s no way to determine from a Facebook post itself that the posting actually occurred while the patron was on the library’s
computer. Depending on how you log and monitor patron use of your computers, it may be possible to determine whether a library computer was involved in such activity. But be aware that the state’s Library Privacy Act may be triggered if the police request
access to library records related to a patron’s use of a library computer. As always, you should be consulting your library’s legal advisory on any questions related to legal issues like this.
<br>
<br>
Good luck!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D"><br>
Andrew Mutch<br>
Library Systems Technician<br>
Waterford Township Public Library<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D">This posting is my opinion and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the Waterford Township Public Library or the Charter Township of Waterford, Michigan. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<div>
<div style="border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in">
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"">From:</span></b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif""> michlib-l-bounces@mcls.org [mailto:michlib-l-bounces@mcls.org]
<b>On Behalf Of </b>Nannette Pretzer<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Tuesday, February 17, 2015 3:54 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> Michlib list serv<br>
<b>Subject:</b> [Michlib-l] Patron's Facebook Usage<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I just received a call from a person who knows this lady is using the library computers to post “threatening” messages on Facebook. Is there anything we can legally do to prohibit this patron from using the computers and posting these
“alleged” threatening facebook posts? Any wisdom or knowledge you can share on this issue?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:20.0pt;font-family:"Brush Script MT"">Nannette Pretzer<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Director<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">St. Charles District Library<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">104 W. Spruce Street<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">St. Charles, MI 48655<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.stcharlesdistrictlibrary.org">www.stcharlesdistrictlibrary.org</a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">989-865-9371<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="mailto:n.pretzer@vlc.lib.mi.us">n.pretzer@vlc.lib.mi.us</a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
</div>
</body>
</html>