The Library Publishing Coalition (LPC) is a welcoming, supportive, kind community of scholars and practitioners who strengthen each other’s work through participation in events & dialogue. LPC’s Code of Conduct is intended to encourage positive interactions between community members and protect against harassment and abusive behavior. The Code is not intended to shut down uncomfortable but important conversations, but instead to create community spaces that support constructive feedback and growth. The Code is updated regularly, so we ask that you please read it carefully. At any time you are welcome to contact an LPC staff member or a member of the LPC Board with any questions or concerns. Thank you for your participation in our community!
Scope
This code of conduct applies to all forms of participation in the Library Publishing Coalition (LPC) community, including, but not limited to:
- Messages sent to the LPC-L email list;
- Participation as a member, officer, or community guest in LPC committees, the LPC Board, and any other officially sanctioned or created governance or task groups;
- Participation as an organizer, speaker, vendor, or other attendee at the Library Publishing Forum and other officially sanctioned LPC events (e.g. meet-ups);
- Participation in LPC-sponsored social media discussion or other online discussion spaces (such as a conference hashtag)
For the purposes of this code, a “community member” is any individual who is employed by a LPC member institution or who is otherwise acting in an official capacity on behalf of the LPC. A “guest” is any other individual besides a community member who participates in an LPC body, venue, or event, whether virtually or in person.
Standards of Conduct
Do’s
The LPC aims to build an inclusive and respectful community for all members and guests. We encourage everyone to:
- Be kind and treat each other as professionals
- Engage in dialogue thoughtfully and with curiosity
- Be open to listening to alternative viewpoints
- Be generous and helpful with your own expertise and respectful of others’ expertise
- Approach interactions with empathy, patience, understanding and a sense of humor
Don’ts
The LPC is dedicated to creating a harassment-free community for everyone regardless of gender, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, or religion. The LPC will not tolerate harassment of—or by—members or guests of the community in any form. Sexual or discriminatory language and imagery is not appropriate for any LPC community venue, whether virtual or in person. Community members or guests violating these rules may be sanctioned or expelled at the discretion of the LPC Board.
Harassment includes offensive verbal or written comments related to gender, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, religion; sexual and or discriminatory images in physical or virtual public spaces; deliberate intimidation, stalking, following, harassing photography or recording; sustained disruption of talks or other events; inappropriate physical contact; and unwelcome sexual attention.
Resolving problems
Resolving issues within the community
When it is safe to do so, authentic engagement (aligned particularly with the Do’s outlined above) may resolve unwelcomed behavior and misunderstandings. When approached about one’s own behavior, community members are expected to listen carefully to any concerns, and to respond thoughtfully, and with empathy.
If it is not safe to address a problematic interaction directly, the board will address Code of Conduct violations as outlined in the next section. Community members are also invited to use the reporting mechanism below to notify the Board of issues that arose but were successfully resolved. This will allow the Board to track problems and identify any necessary follow up (e.g. policy updates or training).
Reporting issues
If you are being harassed, notice that someone else is being harassed, or have any other concerns, please contact an LPC staff member or a member of the LPC Board or email contact@librarypublishing.org. Community members or guests asked to stop any harassing behavior are expected to comply immediately. If the harassment occurs in person (for example, at the Library Publishing Forum), the LPC staff or Board member will assist affected individuals in contacting hotel/venue security or local law enforcement, provide escorts, or otherwise assist those experiencing harassment to feel safe to the extent possible.
The LPC staff or Board member will then report the incident to the LPC Board, who will determine what further action may be necessary. If a community member or guest engages in harassing behavior in any setting, the LPC Board may take any action it deems appropriate, including warning the offender or expulsion from the LPC body, venue, or event. A follow-up report will be made to individuals who report being harassed.
Recording/social media policy
Please be thoughtful and respectful with your photographs, recording, and sharing on social media.
While we encourage in-person dialogue during LPC events, we also encourage participants to engage with social media as a way to enrich their own experience and to engage with other attendees and with those who may not be able to attend.
By default, participants may discuss presentations on social media and share quotes and photographs publicly. Presenters who do not wish to be photographed or have their presentations discussed on social media should say so at the beginning of the session or at any time during it. Presenters may specify which activities they are comfortable with – for example, they may be OK with pictures of their slides but not of themselves, or with general discussion but not direct quotation. Participants are expected to honor presenters’ wishes in this area.
The LPC may officially record or live stream presentations from speakers that have agreed to be recorded. All other streaming and recording requires explicit permission from the presenter: attendees should always ask prior to creating sound or video recordings of any sessions.
Members, guests, and those using event hashtags are expected to comply with applicable social media platform policies, including those on harassment and abuse. Violations of these policies will also be reported via the appropriate channels.
Health guidelines policy
To ensure our in-person LPC events are safe and welcoming for all members of our community, we may institute event-specific health guidelines, such as requirements for face-coverings or social distancing. We expect all attendees to adhere to these guidelines while attending events, along with any relevant local and national health guidance in effect at the time. Violations of the health guidelines policy will be addressed as a violation of the standards of conduct.