Adapted from The Carpentries Code of Conduct under the Creative Commons Attribution License, with reference to the ALA’s Code of Ethics, as well as the AALL Meeting & Events Code of Conduct, the AALL Social Media Code of Conduct, and the SLA Code of Conduct.

About NOCALL

NOCALL is committed to providing a welcoming and supportive environment for all members, regardless of background or identity. By participating in this community, participants agree to abide by NOCALL’s Code of Conduct and accept the procedures by which any Code of Conduct incidents are resolved. Any form of behavior to exclude, intimidate, or cause discomfort is a violation of the Code of Conduct.

NOCALL is a member-led organization. We value the involvement of every member in our community. We are committed to creating a friendly and respectful place for learning, networking and exchanging ideas. As such, we do not tolerate behavior that is disrespectful to our members or guests, or that excludes, intimidates, or causes discomfort to others. We do not tolerate discrimination or harassment based on characteristics that include, but are not limited to, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, citizenship, nationality, ethnic or social origin, pregnancy, familial status, veteran status, genetic information, religion or belief (or lack thereof), membership of a national minority, property, age, education, socio-economic status, technical choices, and experience level.

As the ALA notes in their Code of Ethics, as librarians, “[w]e significantly influence or control the selection, organization, preservation, and dissemination of information. In a political system grounded in an informed citizenry, we are members of a profession explicitly committed to intellectual freedom and the freedom of access to information. We have a special obligation to ensure the free flow of information and ideas to present and future generations.”  This means that occasionally the topics we discuss in professional training are contentious or emotionally charged.  This code of conduct is meant to ensure that we have rules and guidelines in place, so everyone is able to participate fully, assured of their safety in our professional settings.

Please note, this Code of Conduct does not replace, and explicitly incorporates, our Listserv Policies, NOCALL Discussion Forum Rules and Conditions, and the Social Media Code of Conduct from AALL.

Expected Behavior:

Please take some time to familiarize yourself with this document.  Everyone participating in NOCALL activities is required to follow this Code of Conduct. All participants in our events and communications are expected to show respect and courtesy to others. All interactions should be professional regardless of platform: either online or in-person.

The Code of Conduct applies to all physical and virtual spaces managed by NOCALL, including, but not limited to, meetings, educational events, email lists, and online forums such as Zoom. Event hosts are expected to assist with the enforcement of the Code of Conduct. By participating, participants indicate their acceptance of the procedures by which NOCALL resolves any Code of Conduct incidents, which may include storage and processing of their personal information.

In order to foster a positive and professional environment we encourage the following kinds of behaviors in all NOCALL events and online platforms:

  • Use welcoming and inclusive language

  • Be respectful of different viewpoints and experiences

  • Gracefully accept constructive criticism

  • Focus on what is best for the community

  • Show courtesy and respect towards other community members

Unacceptable Behavior:

Examples of unacceptable behavior by participants at any NOCALL event/platform include:

  • written or verbal comments which have the effect of excluding people on the basis of membership of any specific group

  • causing someone to fear for their safety, such as through stalking, following, or intimidation

  • violent threats or language directed against another person

  • the display of sexual or violent images

  • unwelcome sexual attention

  • nonconsensual or unwelcome physical contact

  • sustained disruption of talks, events or communications

  • insults or put downs

  • sexist, racist, homophobic, transphobic, ableist, or exclusionary jokes

  • excessive swearing

  • incitement to violence, suicide, or self-harm

  • continuing to initiate interaction (including photography or recording) with someone after being asked to stop

  • publication of private communication without consent

Consequences of Unacceptable behavior:

If you believe someone is violating the Code of Conduct in an online setting, we ask that you report it to a NOCALL Board member or by emailing conduct@nocall.org, which will deliver to the current President, Vice President & Past President.  They will take the appropriate action to address the situation.

If you become aware of a violation at a live event, please notify the meeting organiser or any NOCALL Board Members present, so that we can take the appropriate action.  If a participant has been the target of harassment, we will help them contact hotel/venue security or local law enforcement, or otherwise help them take steps to feel safe for the duration of the event.  A NOCALL Board Representative will follow up with security or the police department to request a report detailing their course of action.

All conduct reports will be reviewed by the Executive Board in closed session and will be kept confidential to the extent possible while ensuring enforcement of this Code of Conduct.

Participants who are asked to stop any inappropriate behavior are expected to comply immediately. This applies to any NOCALL events and platforms, either online or in-person. If a participant engages in behavior that violates this code of conduct, the host/organizers may warn the offender, ask them to leave the event or platform (without refund), or engage the Board to investigate the Code of Conduct violation and impose appropriate sanctions.

Passed by the NOCALL Executive Board on October 19, 2020