Code of Conduct for KnowItNow24x7

Our librarians treat KnowItNow users with respect and courtesy. Users of our service who feel they are not treated with respect are encouraged to send comments or complaints to the KnowItNow24x7 Coordinator.

Users are expected to treat KnowItNow librarians with the same respect. Please remember that you are talking to a real person and to be polite and courteous at all times. Often, librarians are working with multiple patrons simultaneously. Your patience is greatly appreciated as well.

Unacceptable behavior/usage includes, but is not limited to, the following:

Using offensive or obscene language or language of a racist or sexist nature.
Transmitting messages that harass or threaten the librarians.
Deliberately and continuously being uncooperative, asking misleading or highly personal questions, and otherwise wasting the librarians' time and/or effort in a way that denies service to other legitimate users of the service.

Users who demonstrate unacceptable behavior/usage of the service are in violation of our Code of Conduct and may experience one or more of the following depending on the severity of the situation:

Warning: Our librarians may ask you to change your language or behavior. We want to help you, so you might even get two warnings.
Disconnecting: If the offending behavior continues, you will be disconnected. KnowItNow reserves the right to disconnect users at our discretion.
Reporting: We contact schools and Internet service providers to report egregious or threatening violations. Threats are taken seriously.
Loss of Access: Continued violations may result in permanent loss of access. Unlawful activities will be dealt with in an appropriate manner.

We protect the privacy of your question. However, people who demonstrate unacceptable behavior or usage of the service forfeit their privacy. If abuse of the system is detected or a complaint is filed, management reserves the right to access transcripts in order to take appropriate action.

December 2009