WebJunction

I would like to learn about your policies for providing/handling Myspace pages sponsored by your libraries.

In particular, I would like to learn:

Whether you accept friends on your Myspace page, and if you choose to decline friend requests, what is your rationale for doing so?

Do you accept all friend requests because those people who sent requests simply expressed enough of an interest in the library to send you a request? Do you prescreen the pages of all people who have sent you friend requests and screen out people who post raunchy/racist/derogatory material? (screening out as in denying their "adds")?

Do you have some sort of "user agreement" posted on your site, and can you provide me with examples of some of the language and links to the particular place on your myspace page where it can be found?

How do you handle the fact that friends listed on your site may post whatever they like on their pages and can falsify their identities?

How do you handle the idea that pedophile could come into contact with their victims through your library's Myspace page? Do you limit your liability by not accepting friends or posting a user agreement prominently on your site? Or do you utilize a Myspace layout covers up the pictures of all friends added so that they can't come in contact with each other?

What is your opinion about providing a personal face to the library on the Myspace page? Is it better keeping with the whole social aspect of Myspace to post pictures of the librarians and keep a more social/personal tone? Or is it better to remain truly professional and post a picture of the library -- even though it may look more stodgy and dry in such a social medium? Indeed, it might be safer NOT to post pictures of staff -- especially when you have right there cited on the internet where you work. What are your opinions???

Best of all -- do any of you know of any material and resources citing benchmark practices and policies for library sponsored Myspace pages?