Why does FOLIO need a Code of Conduct?

The purpose of a code of conduct is to protect members of a community from harm in that community's spaces. The FOLIO Community is a diverse group of individuals from across the world, working together towards a common goal.  We each bring our own experiences, backgrounds, and cultures to this work, and sometimes what is implicitly understood by one person to be the norm is a completely new idea to another.  By defining and communicating our shared expectations of conduct within FOLIO interactions, we aim to reduce misunderstandings and foster a supportive, collaborative environment where all members of the community can feel heard, respected and included.

Does this mean I can’t argue for my position/idea?

Disagreements happen, and that’s ok.  Conflict is natural and inevitable.  Where there is change, there will be conflict.  Where there is diversity, there will be conflict. We are aiming for both change and diversity in the FOLIO project!  The goal is not to minimize conflict, the goal is to successfully manage conflict to find the best solutions to problems.  

Talking through conflicting points of view can help us come to a resolution that we fully understand and support, and this lends strength to the project.  Sometimes, though, when we care strongly about our position or idea, we focus more on being right than being heard and hearing other perspectives.  How you choose to engage in conflict produces either constructive or destructive outcomes. It’s important to remember that we’re all people, with feelings and lives outside of the project, and we’re working together to make FOLIO be all it can be.

There was an incident I witnessed/was involved in, and I’m not sure if it’s a violation of the Code of Conduct.  How do I know whether I should report it or not?

You can speak confidentially with a Community Support Volunteer about the incident, and they will try to help you clarify things.  They can also discuss with you what actions (if any) to take that will make you feel the most comfortable in the FOLIO community going forward.