Discussion moderators
Keeping discussions productive without silencing.
Discussion moderators keep the threads at /discussions/ readable and respectful. This page explains the role, the tools, the principle behind how they are used, and how to apply.
What moderators do
A discussion moderator is a patron with a small set of extra tools on the discussion pages. The tools are:
- Hide a single post. A hidden post is removed from view but leaves a hidden by moderator marker in its place, so readers can see that something was taken down.
- Unhide a hidden post. Restores a hidden post to view. Used when a hide was a mistake, or when the post was edited and no longer needs to be hidden.
- Lock a thread. No further replies can be added. The existing posts remain visible.
- Unlock a locked thread. Reopens a locked thread to replies.
That is the whole toolkit. Moderators cannot edit other patrons’ posts, cannot delete a thread, cannot ban a patron from the Library. Those actions belong to the head librarian; see The head librarian role.
The principle
The Library prefers visible edits over silent hides. A hidden post leaves a marker so readers know something was removed and roughly why — the marker shows the moderator’s short note (“removed: doxxing”, “removed: harassment”). Readers can disagree with a hide; the marker makes that disagreement possible.
Moderators hide only what cannot be salvaged: spam, harassment, doxxing (publishing someone’s home address or phone number), and personal attacks with no engagement in the subject. A heated post about a state agency’s record stays up. A heated post that calls a named patron a slur comes down. Borderline posts — strong language, but engaging with the substance — stay up. The Library tolerates strong feeling; it does not tolerate the personal abuse that drives careful readers away.
The moderation audit log
Every moderation action records four things: who did it, when, to which post, and the moderator’s written reason. The log is visible to every librarian, so the work of moderation is open. If you ever wonder why a post was hidden, ask a librarian to look at the log — the reason is recorded there.
When to escalate to the head librarian
Some situations are larger than a single post. Examples:
- A legal threat against the Library, an author, or another patron.
- A campaign of sustained harassment from one patron against another, over many threads.
- A request to take down a piece of source material in the Library (not just a discussion post — actual published material).
- Anything that seems to need a decision the moderator does not have the authority to make.
In any of these, leave the situation as it stands, write a note to the head librarian (either through feedback or in the moderation tab of the librarian dashboard), and let the head librarian decide.
How to apply
There is no separate moderator-application form yet. The Library is small enough that moderation has so far been done by the head librarian directly. If you have a steady contribution pattern in the discussions — careful posts, helpful replies, a track record of patience with new patrons — and you want the role, submit feedback saying so. The head librarian will read it, look at your post history, and reply.
When discussion volume grows enough that a formal queue is needed, a moderator-application form will appear on this page.
More on tiers and advancement: /pro/roles/ — the institutional ladder, with the full list of recognition and stewardship paths.
