Information Privacy

The American Library Association Privacy Notice: Privacy is essential to the exercise of free speech, free thought, and free association. The courts have established a First Amendment right to receive information in a publicly funded library.1 Further, the courts have upheld the right to privacy based on the Bill of Rights of the U.S. Constitution.2 Many states provide guarantees of privacy in their constitutions and statute law.3 Numerous decisions in case law have defined and extended rights to privacy.4

In a library (physical or virtual), the right to privacy is the right to open inquiry without having the subject of one’s interest examined or scrutinized by others. Confidentiality exists when a library is in possession of personally identifiable information about users and keeps that information private on their behalf.5

Protecting user privacy and confidentiality has long been an integral part of the mission of libraries. The ALA has affirmed a right to privacy since 1939.6 Existing ALA policies affirm that confidentiality is crucial to freedom of inquiry.7 Rights to privacy and confidentiality also are implicit in the Library Bill of Rights’8 guarantee of free access to library resources for all users.

For more information of ALA Privacy Policy please see:
http://www.ala.org/ala/issuesadvocacy/librarybill/interpretations/privacy.cfm

 

  • Staff and Patron (student, faculty, etc.) information is private.
  • It is fine to inform patrons when full time and part time staff are working, but work study staff schedules are not to be shared.
  • Please refrain from talking about sensitive staff, departmental or privacy issues at the front desk. If you notice this happening, please see supervisor.
  • Do not share schedule, phone, address, books checked out, records, etc., of staff or patrons with other people who may ask.
  • There is also a "confidentiality" form that you should have signed when you received all of your financial aid papers
    http://www.antiochne.edu/financial/forms/confidentiality.pdf
  • If you haven't signed it, check in at the Financial Aid office and do so!