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Trustees briefed on Brown Act social-media rules: avoid inter-member replies and likes on library business
Summary
At a mandatory 2026 Brown Act distribution, staff emphasized trustees should not respond to or "like" each other's social-media posts about library business to avoid serial meetings; reposting library event posts for promotion was described as permissible.
Reno presented the 2026 Brown Act distribution and highlighted a key social-media rule: while trustees may use social platforms, they should avoid interacting with one another on posts about library business to prevent a 'serial meeting' scenario. "You all are still welcome and encouraged to use social media, but you can't respond to one another's posts," Reno said, adding that 'liking' another trustee's related post could be construed as serial interaction.
Trustees asked whether sharing or reposting official library posts (for example, promoting an event) would violate the rule. Reno and other trustees clarified that simple sharing to promote library programming is acceptable, provided trustees are not repeatedly commenting or engaging in a way that looks like coordinated deliberation about library business.
Staff offered to provide additional guidance and to include this topic in upcoming training. The distribution of the Brown Act materials is a required annual step; staff noted relatively few substantive changes for 2026 but recommended caution and advance consultation with the clerk's office when unsure.
