LIBRARIESand

privacyIN THE DIGITAL AGE

Photo Copyright © 2015 Pulp and Pixels

Why do libraries

so much about

“Choice requires both a varied selection and the

assurance that one's choice is not monitored.”

H A V E L A W S P R O T E C T I N G T H E

CONFIDENTIALITY OF LIBRARY RECORDS48 STATESKentucky & Hawaii have attorney general's opinionsPlus the district of Columbia

Any library record, the primary

purpose of which is to maintain

control of library materials, or to gain

access to information, that discloses or

could be used to disclose the identity

of a library user is exempt from

disclosure under this chapter.

RCW 42.56.310

The Library will keep patron records confidential and will

not disclose this information except as necessary for the

proper operation of the Library, upon consent of the user,

pursuant to subpoena or court order, or as otherwise

required by law.

The Library retains the minimum

number of records necessary for

maintaining operations.

Public computer information is

automatically deleted at the end of

a session.

Information about check-outs and

returns is automatically deleted at

day-end (unless the patron has fines

or has been referred to a materials

recovery agency).

Mandatory library staff training in

library policy and intellectual

freedom principles

PROCEDURES

DISRUPTIONS

Third-party Digital Content and Services

D I G I T A L R I G H T S M A N A G E M E N T

T E N S I O N S B E T W E E N S E C U r i t ya n d c i v i l l i b e r t i e s

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USA PATRIOT ActSection 215 permits gov’t to secretly

request and obtain library records

for large numbers of individuals

without any reason to believe they

are involved in illegal activity

Section 505 permits the FBI to obtain

electronic records from libraries with

a National Security Letter without

prior judicial oversight

Photo by Jessamyn West / CC BY 2.0

LIBRARY• Controlled data•Governed by local policy

CONTENT PROVIDERS• Shared data•Governed by contract

DRM SERVICES• Shared data•Governed by Terms of Use

CONTENT OWNERS• Shared data•Governed by Terms of Use

Photo © Disabled Sports USA

patrons• Personal data•Governed by self-interest, rights

Basic CONTRACTS• Online catalog• Databases• Journals• Periodicals

Photo Copyright ©2015 Designtechnica Corporation.

Seattle Public Library expresses ‘concern and alarm’ over Adobe’s data tracking policies

Taylor Soper on GeekWire.com, October 8, 2014

1. Clarify what data is being collected, especially if that data contains PII

2. Explain how long the data is bring retained

3. Stop transmitting data in plain text

Photo. Evil Mad Scientist Labs. © 2009

“The Library has teamed up

with reputable third party

partners in order to provide

certain services to its users.

Information a patron submits

to the Library may be

provided to those third

parties so they can assist the

Library in providing certain

services. Users are

encouraged to read and

become familiar with the

privacy policies of these

third party partners.”

“Solving social

problems by restricting

technology and

preventing you from

access to those

restrictions reduces

privacy and security.”

Photo CCA3 Jonathan Worth, JonathanWorth.com

Cory Doctorow