Is your organisation restricting your access to social networking sites like this?

[Jane King]

On behalf of one of my colleagues who cannot access this site:

"We are undertaking some research into the use of Social Networking sites as an integral need for museums within local government. We have been put in a tricky position by the introduction of a superfilter on the IT network which bans access to basically all social networking sites. In an effort to put together a business case to present to our Executive Managerial Team I am looking for examples from other local government authorities on how they use social networking to promote their sites/museums, for professional development and for social and professional networking opportunities.

If you have any policies relating to social networking I would also be interested to have copies or to know how this is being rolled out in other LGAs.

I would also be interested to learn if other LGAs are experiencing similar difficulties in explaining the need for social networking access for their museum/library/collection? Perhaps our case is not so dissimilar to other? I would love to raise a discussion on this topic on nexus or the museum wiki but unfortunately....the computer says NO!!!"

[Regan Forrest]

Anecdotally, this seems to be a problem across Government departments at all levels, to varying degrees. People who make these rules probably have never encountered social networking sites beyond media reports that depict them as nothing more than a means of exchanging inanities. And yes there is the risk of inappropriate use on office time, but that is also true for email and even the telephone for that matter. Eventually a case will need to be built that the benefits far outweigh any potential for abuse (as has already been done for emails, etc). Perhaps there was a similar argument 10-15 years ago about getting email? Someone with a longer memory than me might be able to dust off some of the arguments used back then and see if they could be updated to help win the case this time around?

[Clancy Matthews]

So many of the existing networks such as CAN, Powerhouse Museum blogs, etc have been so helpful and support our work so well that I think the time will come when it will be impossible to truly productive without these social networks sharing information. Social networking is definitely the next wave and I'd argue that intellegent use will allow us all to make our collections truly accessible to the public by encouraging actual visitation through virtual visitation, Facebook friends/fans and the like. Have you seen what the National Portrait Gallery did on line with their new Doppelganger exhibition? Holding up examples like this may capture the imagination of the more enlighted and get them on side.
http://www.portrait.gov.au/exhibit/doppelganger/

[David Milne]

This is an interesting thread Jane, which prompted me to write a blog about broader ramifications of the use of social media today, so thanks for stimulating the thought-processes!

Similar to most GLAM institutions, QM has a clear and stringent internet policy that staff are obliged to adhere to. However, the policy is applied fairly and judiciously; staff may briefly access personal hotmail, gmail accounts or pay an on-line bill at lunchtime (or at the end of the day) providing that the spirit and the intention of the policy are adhered too. Museum Australia’s adoption of Ning as a communication platform caused initial problems as our Sophos anti-virus screening software identified the site as being for ‘dating purposes’ and blocked access. IMIT management overturned this and added Ning to the safe list – although it is likely that only a few ‘trusted’ staff users with bona fide professional interests will access the site.

[Natalie James]

Hi David, would you be able to send me a copy of the QM internet policy, I'd be very interested to see how they have phrased the policy? Could you please email it [e-mail] it would be much appreciated.

David Milne said:

This is an interesting thread Jane, which prompted me to write a blog about broader ramifications of the use of social media today, so thanks for stimulating the thought-processes!

Similar to most GLAM institutions, QM has a clear and stringent internet policy that staff are obliged to adhere to. However, the policy is applied fairly and judiciously; staff may briefly access personal hotmail, gmail accounts or pay an on-line bill at lunchtime (or at the end of the day) providing that the spirit and the intention of the policy are adhered too. Museum Australia’s adoption of Ning as a communication platform caused initial problems as our Sophos anti-virus screening software identified the site as being for ‘dating purposes’ and blocked access. IMIT management overturned this and added Ning to the safe list – although it is likely that only a few ‘trusted’ staff users with bona fide professional interests will access the site.

[Paul Bentley]

The Social Media Governance website - especially the database of 106 social media policies - may be of interest.