Homedefault.xml ALA Web Site Resources Policies and Guidelines for the ALA Website

Policies and Guidelines for the ALA Website

I. Introduction

Technological developments have impacted the way that organizations present themselves to their members and the general public. Many organizations have moved their public presence to the Internet allowing people to access organizational information without regard to time and place. The American Library Association and its units (referred to in this document as ALA) have been no exception to this trend by maintaining an active Internet presence over the past decade. ALA has had an aggressive Internet presence. ALA maintains a Web presence supported by thousands of pages developed by its sections and affiliated committees. The size and increased use of the ALA Website has led the ALA to consider policies and guidelines for its future growth.

These policies aim to provide direct guidance without being over- prescriptive on procedural or technical issues. Due to the diversity and complexity across ALA, variance in the ways these policies/guidelines are applied is to be expected. It is hoped that the following framework has the flexibility and breadth to endure the changes that technology inevitably brings.

II. Mission Statement

The ALA Website will provide information and guidance for the membership and service issues in libraries. The main page will serve as a clearinghouse for information about ALA activities. The Web page will encourage the exchange and expression of ideas from across the library profession. Open dialogue and discussion will be encouraged for all content that makes its way to the ALA sites. ALA recognizes that the World Wide Web offers an excellent medium to encourage a wide variety of pages that can be hosted across its Web presence. The ALA Websites will clearly be committed to promoting membership and in advancing the basic ideals of all types of librarianship to the broader library community and the general public.

III. Policies/Guidelines

A. All ALA Websites

General Principles

1. Those responsible for the front page and section/committee pages will commit to annual updating of their sites. These individuals are encouraged to establish their own updating schedules independent of the annual update, so information can be posted as it becomes available.
2. The front page and section/committee pages will conform to the ALA Web Style Guide (draft guidelines are being developed by UserWorks for the new Redesigned Website).
3. All ALA pages will follow W3C, ADA, and other major accessibility standards for design and updating.

Content and Accuracy

4. The scale, rate of change, and growth of the ALA Website preclude any systematic review of posted material for content/accuracy by any one individual or group.ALA strives to provide accuracy and currency, but ALA cannot assure that every statement that appears on the page is true and accurate.
5. All documents that appear across the ALA site will be clearly labeled with ownership information so responses can be directed to the appropriate individuals.
6. Contributors providing opinion or editorial content will identify it as such.
7. All ALA pages will provide a mechanism for feedback about content and accuracy. The ALA Webmaster on the main page and Web coordinators at the division / section /committee level will monitor ongoing dialogues, comments, and concerns about material on the site.
8. The accuracy of anything on the site can be challenged by members and those outside the association and dialogue and debate will be supported and made public.

B. ALA Front Page

1. ALA’s Web Editorial Board serve as an advisor to staff on the design and content of the ALA front page.
2. Links to ALA news, projects, and ALA sponsored programs will be prominently featured.
3. Important content will be highlighted.
4. Links to the ALA’s divisions and offices will be included.
5. A link for ALA activities for the current annual/midwinter conferences will be provided. An archive of these activities will be maintained according to ALA standards for archiving.
6. A link providing information about joining ALA will be provided.

C. ALA Committee Pages

1. Web coordinators will not be given credentials to work with Web content until they complete ALA CMS (Content Management System) training.
2. Each section and committee page will include a statement of purpose that outlines their basic charge and functions within ALA.
3. Links to current projects, program announcements, and publications will be provided.
4. Information will be provided on how to participate or join the section/committee (e.g. committee volunteer forms).
5. Access to meeting minutes (e.g. ALA mid-winter and annual meeting minutes), news, and reports will be provided.
6. Committee Web pages will include links back to ALA Web pages.
7. Each committee site will include contact and update information of the person (s) responsible for the content at the bottom of the page.

D. "Members Only" versus Public Content

1. Content that is designed from the use of dues income (e.g. membership directories) will be restricted to current members.
2. Official documents of the ALA that are under review will have a "members only" status. Official and final versions of documents may also be designated as restricted by committees at the discretion of chairs or other authorities within the division.
3. Software or other tools that might be used to conduct division meetings or official business will be restricted to current ALA members.
4. Access to official rosters for committees will be restricted to current ALA members. Changes in rosters will be reflected when they occur.
5. Promotional or informational content about ALA programs, events, products, librarianship, or user services will be available to the library community and the public-at-large.
6. Information concerning membership and joining ALA will be made available to the broader public.
7. Anything not designated as members-only will be available to the public.

IV. Appendix 1. Challenges

A. Responding to Challenges of Content (General Principles)

1. The term "challenges" is defined to be significant inaccuracies of fact, information, or content on the ALA Website that are reported by members or persons outside the association. These inaccuracies will be serious enough to change the meaning of material or give out incorrect information to users of the site
2. When the accuracy of facts, content, or information is challenged, due diligence will be taken to investigate the challenge by the appropriate body as outlined in sections II-IV.
3. Open dialogue on challenges will be invited.

B. Responding to Challenges of Content to the Main ALA Page (for section B, ALA refers to the American Library Association and its units without an Executive Board).

1. If content on the main ALA page is challenged the ALA Board will be responsible for responding to the challenge.
2. The ALA Board will be responsible for investigating the substance of the challenge. The Board will gather information from authors, contributors, vendors, and other interested parties to verify facts and potential inaccuracies.
3. The ALA Board will be responsible for recommending that challenged material be left alone, changed, retracted, or removed.
4. The ALA President will be responsible for communicating its recommendations to the author or contributor of the challenged material.
5. The ALA President will be responsible for communicating its recommendations to the person or persons who initiated the content challenge.
6. The ALA President will advise the ALA Webmaster of the Boards recommendations

C. Responding to Challenges of Content to a Main Division Page

1. If content on a main division page is challenged the division Board will be responsible for responding to the challenge.
2. The division Board will be responsible for investigating the substance of the challenge. The Board will gather information from authors, contributors, vendors, and other interested parties to verify facts and potential inaccuracies.
3. The division Board will be responsible for recommending that challenged material be left alone, changed, retracted, or removed.
4. The division President will be responsible for communicating its recommendations to the author or contributor of the challenged material.
5. The division President will be responsible for communicating its recommendations to the person or persons who initiated the content challenge.
6. The division President will advise the division Webmaster of the Boards recommendations.

D. Responding to Challenges of Content at the Section Level

1. The section executive committee will initially evaluate challenges of content relating to section and committees pages. Its members will be responsible for evaluating the substance of the challenge, including the gathering of information from authors, contributors, vendors, and other interested parties to verify facts and inaccuracies.
2. The section executive committee will be responsible for recommending that challenged content be left alone, changed, retracted, or removed. The chair of the section executive committee will be responsible for advising the interested parties of their recommendations and that the final decision will be made at the division Board level.
3. The chair of the section executive committee will advise the division Board of the recommendations of the committee and the division Board will make the final decision.
4. The division President will be responsible for communicating the Board's decision to the author or contributor of the challenged material.
5. The division President will be responsible for communicating the Board's decision to the person or person's challenging the content.
6. The division President will advise the Web coordinator of the Board's decision.

E. Principles for Responding to Challenges of Content

1. Challenges of content to both section Web pages and the main page should be responded to promptly.The deliberations and responses should be made a permanent part of the record of those committees.
2. Original content and later challenges must be made equally accessible.
3. In responding to inaccuracies the decision may be made that the original statement needs to be changed, replaced, or presented within the context of the original inaccuracy.
4. Challenged material will not be removed without an investigation and dialogue at the appropriate level.
5. Removal of challenged content will only be considered as a last resort. If inaccuracies impact the integrity of the material or risk giving wrong information to users of the site removal may be considered. Change, retraction, or posting challenges with the original unchallenged content will be encouraged as an alternative to outright removal.