The document discusses the privacy of patron records in academic libraries. It outlines federal and state laws such as the U.S. Constitution and Ohio Revised Code that require libraries to protect patron privacy. The American Library Association's principles of privacy and the library Code of Ethics also support patron privacy and confidentiality. Key terms related to privacy like personally identifiable information and library records are defined.

1. I Choose Privacy!
Intellectual Freedom:
Addressing the Privacy Issue in the
Academic Library

2. Training Objectives
• Purpose of training session to provide information to
faculty and staff members of the Academic Libraries
responsibility to provided Privacy of patron records.
• Address what Federal, State laws and American
Library Association govern the privacy of patron
records
• Address why libraries ensure the Privacy of Patron
Records
• Address what is the public right to privacy
• Address what is the Library Code of Ethics

3. Privacy of Library Patron Records & Federal Law
• United States Constitution
Bill of Rights – Fourth Amendment states: “The
right of the people to be secure
– First Amendment states:
in their persons, houses, papers,
“Congress shall make no law
and effects, against unreasonable
respecting an establishment of
searches and seizures, shall not
religion, or prohibiting the free
be violated, and no warrants
exercise thereof; or abridging the
shall issue, but upon probable
freedom of speech, or of the
cause, supported by oath or
press; or the right of the people
affirmation, and particularly
peaceably to assemble, and to
describing the place to be
petition the government for a
searched, and the persons or
redress of grievances.”
things to be seized.”

4. Federal Law
U.S. Patriot Act
• Congress passed legislation in 2001 Sept. 11
in response of the terrorist attack against the
United States.
• February 2010 Congree voted to renew the
legislation.

5. Privacy of Library Patron Records & State of
Ohio Revised Code
• Ohio Revised Code
– prohibits libraries to release patron information and
library records except as authorized in the Revised Code
Section 149.432.
• 48 states have library privacy laws
• http://www.ala.org/ala/aboutala/offices/oif/ifgroups/stateifcc
hairs/stateifcinaction/stateprivacy.cfm

6. Local Library Policy
• The mission of Academic Libraries are
governed by the fundamental principles of the
Library Bill of Rights. (Office of Intellectual
Freedom)
• http://www.ala.org/oif/policies/interpretatons/privacy

7. ALA Principles of Privacy
• Public right to privacy
• Library Privacy Policy
• Library Code of Ethics

8. Definitions
• Privacy
• Confidentiality
• Personally Identifiable Information
• Library Record

9. Public Right to Privacy
• Privacy gives individuals the power to exercise
their right of free speech, free thought and free
association; by denying privacy and
confidentiality reduces the probability that
people will produce new ideas. The fear of
monitoring the records of patrons denying an
individual of their constitutional rights.
• Libraries are prohibited from releasing patron
information and library records except as
authorized in Revised Code Section 149.432.

10. Right to Privacy cont.
• The Fourth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution
provides protection of individuals, "in their
persons, homes, papers, and effects from
unreasonable searches and seizures" by the
government.
• The First Amendment protects individuals
“freedom of religion, speech, press, and
assembly, also implicitly safeguards the right to
privacy in the form of freedom of thought and
intellect. “

11. Library Code of Ethics
• Keeping the privacy and confidentiality is one
of the core values of Librarianship. Patrons
should be able to read what ever they desire
without the fear of being monitored.
• For libraries to flourish as centers for
uninhibited access to information, librarians
must stand behind their users' right to privacy
and freedom of inquiry.

12. Library Code of Ethics
• The right to privacy is the right to open inquiry
without having the subject of one's interest
examined or scrutinized by others. Section III
of the ALA Code of Ethics states, “We protect
each library user’s right to privacy and
confidentiality with respect to information
sought or received and resources consulted,
borrowed, acquired, or transmitted” (Adams,
2005, p.190).

13. Basic Library Concepts
• Right to privacy
– Is the right to one privacy to open inquiry without
having ones interest check upon or scrutinized.
– Confidentiality means that the library is responsible to
keeping personally identifiable information about a
patrons and keeps that information private on behalf
of the user.
– Personally identifiable information pertains to
information the library obtains from users for issuance
of library access cards, any materials a patron
requests, any websites visited and other personal
identifications.

14. Library Record
• Library Record
(2) “Library record” means a record in any form that is maintained by a library and
that contains any of the following types of information:
(a) Information that the library requires an individual to provide in order to be
eligible to use library services or borrow materials;
(b) Information that identifies an individual as having requested or obtained specific
materials or materials on a particular subject;
(c) Information that is provided by an individual to assist a library staff member to
answer a specific question or provide information on a particular subject;
“Library record” does not include information that does not identify any
individual and that is retained for the purpose of studying or evaluating the use
of a library and its materials and services.