City of Harrisonburg – Department of Information Technology (DIT)

March 17, 2010

Introduction:

In February 2010, the City of Harrisonburg joined the social networking website Facebook® as a means to increase citizen awareness and enhance communication between citizens and the City. Upon joining Facebook, the City of Harrisonburg adopted the following policy.

Purpose:

The purpose of the Harrisonburg, VA Page on Facebook is to present matters relating to emergency information, local events, important updates on the Harrisonburgva.gov website, and items of general public interest to Harrisonburg residents, businesses, visitors, and other interested parties. 

Policy:

I.  Types of information and updates to be added to the Harrisonburg, VA Page on Facebook should be in relation to:

     a. Emergency information received through the emergency management director, city manager,

         state or federal weather resources, or other city departments.

     b. Invitations to the public to attend regular government meetings, such as City Council meetings.

     c.  Announcements about local city or city affiliate sponsored events.

     d.  Links to the latest updates on the Harrisonburgva.gov website, such as:

          i. City Council agenda and minutes.

          ii. City holiday and closing announcements.

          iii. Election results.

          iv. Sports registration links.

          v. Local attractions.

          vi. Trash schedule changes.

          vii. Public Transportation route changes.

          viii. Updates to PDFs on website (ex. Activity guides, press release).

     e. Photographs may also be uploaded of city buildings, landscape, and events.

II.  Administrators:

     a. Administrators for the Harrisonburg, VA Page on Facebook must be approved by the DIT.

     b. Suggestions for updates should be e-mailed to the current administrators.

III.  Comments from the public:

     a. The Harrisonburg, VA Page on Facebook is open to comments and questions on posts and

        photos. 

     b. Comments from fans on the wall of the Harrisonburg, VA Page on Facebook are turned off and

         should only be turned on when approved by all page administrators and city administration.

     c. Once a comment on a post or photo is added, the City reserves the right to delete submissions

        which contain the following:

          i.  Vulgar language.

          ii. Personal attacks of any kind.

          iii. Offensive or disruptive comments.

          iv. Spam.

          v. Advertising.

          vi. Promoting particular services, products, or organizations.

          vii. Inappropriate links.

          viii. Advocating illegal activity.

          ix. Infringement on copyrights or trademarks.

          x. Violations of City of Harrisonburg policies.

     d. The comments from fans expressed on the Harrisonburg, VA Page on Facebook do not reflect

          the opinions and positions of the City of Harrisonburg or its officers and employees.

IV. Promoting the Harrisonburg, VA Page on Facebook:

     a. Facebook holds a policy in regards to promoting pages outside of Facebook [1].

     b. “Use or reference to the Facebook brand should not imply partnership, endorsement or

          sponsorship unless approved by Facebook Brand Marketing.”

          i. Ways to refer to the Harrisonburg, VA Page on Facebook in other media:

               1. Find us on Facebook to discover more about Harrisonburg City.

               2. Harrisonburg, VA on Facebook.

               3. Check out the Harrisonburg, VA Page on Facebook.

               4. Find us on Facebook.

          ii. Ways NOT to refer to the Harrisonburg, VA Page on Facebook in other media:

               1. Check out the Harrisonburg, VA Facebook Page.

               2. Harrisonburg, VA partners with Facebook in social advertising campaign.

               3. Facebook and Harrisonburg, VA commit to serving you better ads.

     c. Facebook icons:

          i. “Do not use icons, visuals, logos, etc. taken from the Facebook site.”

          ii. Facebook offers tools to promote each page on Facebook:

               1. Facebook Page Badge: “This Badge can be applied in-store or on location, on the web,

                   and in print collateral.”

               2. Ways to use the Facebook Page badge:

                      a. Hyperlink the “Find us on Facebook” badge to the Harrisonburg, VA Page on

                          Facebook.

                      b. Hyperlink Harrisonburg, VA on Facebook to the Harrisonburg, VA Page on

                          Facebook.

               3. Ways to NOT use the Facebook Page badge:

                       a. Hyperlinking the “Find us on Facebook” badge to the Facebook log-in page.

                       b. Hyperlinking the word “Facebook” to the Harrisonburg, VA Page on Facebook.

V. The Policy for the Harrisonburg, VA Page on Facebook is subject to change at any time by city administration, page administrators, or the city DIT.