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Title:
Public Services Policies
Subject:
Confidentiality of Patron Information and Library Records
Item Number: 6-1
Approved by:
PCDL Board of Trustees
Date Adopted:
September 19, 2002
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The Portage County District Library
supports its patrons’ rights to privacy and protects the confidentiality of
patron information and library records in accordance with Ohio law.
Patron information is defined as personally identifiable information
about an individual who has used any library service or borrowed any library
materials. A library record is defined as a record in any form that is
maintained by the library and that contains any of the following types of
information:
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information an individual is
required to provide in order to be eligible to use library service or borrow
materials;
-
information that identifies an
individual as having requested or obtained specific materials or materials on a
particular subject;
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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.
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 is not considered confidential
and is not subject to this policy.
Under Ohio law, the Portage County District
Library shall not release any library record or disclose any patron information
except in the following situations:
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for the records of a minor child
when requested by that minor child’s parent, guardian or custodian;
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in accordance with a subpoena,
search warrant, or other court order, or to a law enforcement officer who is
investigating a matter involving public safety in exigent circumstances;
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at the written request or with the
written consent of the individual who is the subject of the record or
information;
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for library administrative
purposes as defined by Ohio Revised Code § 149.432, including establishment or
maintenance of a system to manage the library records or to assist in the
transfer of library records from one records management system to another,
compilation of statistical data on library use, and collection of fines and
penalties.
Additionally, the library may release records
that document improper use of the internet at the library so long as any patron
information is removed from those records.
As used in this situation, patron information does not include
information about the age or gender of an individual.
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