Privacy
Course
Creating a Library Privacy Policy [6:53]
A library privacy policy is an important step in promoting privacy in your school library.
A privacy policy should begin with a statement of purpose. For example, to protect privacy of library users and uphold their First Amendment right to receive information. It's important that the policy make the connection between scrutiny free inquiry and privacy. The policy should include references to foundational legal and professional documents. They are the basis for the library's commitment to protecting privacy. These include the First Amendment, the Code of Ethics of the American Library Association, privacy and interpretation of the Library Bill of Right and the Freedom to Read statement. The policy should refer to your state's library records law if it covers school libraries and federal laws such as the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act. Where state library records laws are strong, those provisions should be incorporated into your policy's language. The policy privacy should list the types of personally identifiable information collected by the library. Personally identifiable information means information that can be used to identify an individual, either alone or when combined with other data. Personally identifiable information includes registration records including the student's name, address, phone number and circulation ID number. It includes items checked out and those on reserve and interlibrary loan requests.
The privacy policy should identify to whom and under what conditions information about a patron's use of library materials may be released. For example, with permission from the patron or through a law enforcement request, with the proper court order or subpoena. The library should also develop procedures to follow when responding to outside inquiries concerning student library records. For example, there could be inquiries coming from law enforcement officials. Although it may be rare that school librarians have contact with law enforcement officers requesting information about student library records, it does occur. It is well worth your time to read about a Virginia elementary school librarian's experience when a book from her library was found at a scene of a crime. Susana Panter's article, "To protect and Serve" was published in The Knowledge Quest, September-October 2015 issue. Check it out. Susana's school district did an excellent job of protecting student library records until the police department produced the required subpoena.
There are two last items to remember about writing a privacy policy. The policy should state that minimal records will be created and data will be retained only as long as needed for library operation. Lastly, because privacy laws are involved, school districts should consult their legal counsel when drafting a privacy policy. I'm recommending a resource that will be useful to you in creating a privacy policy. It is Chapter 3, "Creating Intellectual Freedom Policies in your Library," found in the 9th edition of the Intellectual Freedom Manual. It's listed on your key privacy resources bibliography. Unfortunately I am unable to give you links to current school library privacy policies. In my career I am aware of only one school library privacy policy and it was unofficial. It was not approved by that librarian's board of education. When the librarian who created it retired, the policy was removed from the library's website. However the ALA privacy toolkit also listed on the key privacy resources bibliography includes links to current privacy policies in public and academic libraries. Because there can be disagreement over whether students' privacy should be protected there is no question that creating a privacy policy would be an arduous task. It will require all of your persuasive powers and your best diplomatic skills, but the work involved is worth it. The result is an official policy to guide privacy decisions.
If creating a privacy policy is not feasible, craft a brief privacy statement to inform students and faculty about the library's commitment to their privacy. Post it in the library, use it as a springboard for discussion with students and staff. .
When your privacy policy is completed and approved by your school's governing board, it should be disseminated to school staff, students and parents. Informing your school community about the privacy policy can be done in multiple ways. Post the policy in a visible place in the library; it will definitely spark some conversations. Additionally the policy can be posted on your library's website. Because of the policy's development process, at the end of this, undertaking school administrators and your colleagues will have a much better understanding of student rights and the privacy principles involved. You will have met one of your many responsibilities as a school librarian: protecting your students' privacy.
A board-approved library privacy policy provides, guidance and clarity to the librarian in privacy-related situations. This lesson covers what to include in a privacy policy and gives examples to consider. Documents and laws that should be included in the policy are also reviewed.
After reviewing your school's policies and procedures, revise or write a library privacy policy for your school. If there is no central library privacy policy in your school district, write the policy so it could be taken to the school board for approval district-wide.
Once you have created your privacy policy, create a plan of action for submitting it to administrators as well as for what you will change in your library and how you will include privacy in your library lessons.
ALA Privacy Toolkit
http://www.ala.org/advocacy/privacy/toolkit
MLA Citation
Collins, Karla. "Privacy: Draft a Privacy Policy." School Library Connection, November 2024, schoollibraryconnection.com/Content/Course/1979856?learningModuleId=1979860&topicCenterId=2247902.
Entry ID: 2136335
Additional Resources
About the Author
Helen R. Adams, MLS, is an online senior lecturer for Antioch University-Seattle in the areas of intellectual freedom, privacy, ethics, and copyright. A Wisconsin resident, she formerly worked as a school librarian and served as president of AASL. She is chair of the ALA Intellectual Freedom Committee and a member of the AASL Knowledge Quest Advisory Board. She authored Protecting Intellectual Freedom and Privacy in Your School Library (Libraries Unlimited 2013) and co-contributed a chapter on intellectual freedom to the second edition of The Many Faces of School Library Leadership (Libraries Unlimited 2017).
MLA Citation
Adams, Helen R. "Privacy. Creating a Library Privacy Policy [6:53]." School Library Connection, ABC-CLIO, September 2015, schoollibraryconnection.com/Content/Course/1979856?learningModuleId=1979860&topicCenterId=2247902.
https://schoollibraryconnection.com/Content/Course/1979856?learningModuleId=1979860&topicCenterId=2247902
Entry ID: 1979856