The Resolution on the Misuse of Behavioral Data Surveillance in Libraries, recently passed at ALA Midwinter, calls for libraries and vendors to reject behavioral data surveillance of patrons. While we are familiar with the concept of data surveillance, the last item in the resolution contains something that some in the library world are not as familiar with – information fiduciaries.
Blog
The Conflict of Access and Privacy in the Right to Be Forgotten
Privacy and access are two important elements in librarianship that we hold dear- Both concepts are prominent in ALA’s Code of Ethics, but what happens when access and privacy collide?
Adventures of an eResources Librarian – Thinking About and Teaching Privacy Every Day, Part One
A big part of the job of an Electronic Resources Librarian in a public library is guiding users through how to use our resources – that includes helping them take control of their own privacy.
Overview of two new ALA privacy-related resolutions
Overview of newly passed ALA resolutions, “Resolution on the Surveillance of Library Users Through Behavioral Tracking” and “Resolution in Opposition to Facial Recognition Software in Libraries”
Book review of Library Privacy Policies
A book review of the 2020 Library Privacy Policies by Jason Vaughan. The book includes a great breakdown of how data is regularly collected and used in a number of different systems, many of which are routinely used in libraries (web servers, virtual reference tracking systems, patron records, etc.). Vaughan also outlines how this data can be used and shared outside of the intended purpose, serving as an important reminder of how many inlets and collection points in data collecting.