Privacy Policy
The American Library Association Code of Ethics includes the statement “We protect each library user’s right to privacy and confidentiality with respect to information sought or received, and materials consulted, borrowed, acquired or transmitted.” The Henry Madden Library strongly supports this precept. Thus, the Library will not disclose information such as reference questions posed, reading materials (including Web sites) consulted, or the identity of its users, except as required by law.
The passage of the USA PATRIOT Act and other laws and regulations following September 11, 2001, gives the FBI and other law enforcement agencies broader authority to obtain confidential information and records from libraries as well as other agencies. While they are still required to obtain a court order, the legal standard for obtaining the order is lower.
Examples of how privacy and confidentiality apply to specific library services.
Circulation
The Library maintains a database of names, addresses, phone numbers, E-mail addresses, and university identification numbers for Fresno State students, faculty, and staff and similar information for holders of other types of borrowing cards. This information is not disclosed to individuals outside the Library, except as required by law. In addition, the Library does not reveal who has borrowed specific books or the borrowing records of individuals, except as required by law. Following common practice, the names of borrowers are removed from the record for each book 60 days after it is returned. The Library does not retain listings of materials borrowed by individuals.
Interlibrary Loan
To comply with copyright regulations, the Library retains interlibrary loan records for 3 years. Names of requestors and the materials they request are not disclosed to individuals outside the Library, except as required by law.
Online Services
For evaluation and system administration purposes, the Library collects IP addresses of users. It also transfers “cookies” to users’ hard drives when they use the Library’s databases. These cookies are not used to gather personal information about users. The Library’s Web site includes many links to Web sites not created by the Library. The Library cannot vouch for the privacy practices of the creators of those Web sites.
Several online forms, including the “Feedback” and “Ask the librarian” forms require requestors to include their names and E-mail addresses. This information is needed so the Library can respond to the requestor and remains confidential. When requestors use the Library’s online forms from remote locations or send E-mail to the Library, their messages may traverse several networks before they reach the Library’s server. The Library cannot vouch for the privacy practices of the administrators of these networks.
Referecne/Research Services
Librarians and staff do not disclose personal information about users nor their inquiries, except when required by law. However, when referring a user to another librarian, a librarian may summarize the inquiry and steps already taken to answer it in order to avoid repetition.
(Adapted from the User Privacy Policy of the Humboldt State University Library)
Adopted March 26th, 2003
For more information see:
“Code of Ethics of the American Library Association”
www.ala.org/alaorg/oif/ethics.shtml
“Confidentiality and Coping
with Law Enforcement Inquiries:
Guidelines for the Library and its Staff”
www.ala.org/alaorg/oif/guidelineslibrary.shtml
“The USA PATRIOT Act in
the Library”
http://www.ala.org/ala/oif/ifissues/usapatriotactlibrary.htm
Send
comments to Dave Tyckoson
Associate Dean of Library Services
Henry Madden Library
California State University, Fresno
