It’s possible to balance privacy and usability successfully in a public library setting. It takes careful selection, communication, and education.
Blog
Foundations of American Privacy
Modern American ideas about privacy are influenced by the first legal article arguing for a right to privacy. How did this article shape privacy law and concepts?
Working Privacy into Practice
This post will address incorporating privacy review into digital projects.
Guidelines on Contact Tracing, Health Checks, and Library Users’ Privacy
The right to privacy is one of the foundations upon which our libraries are built. Privacy is one of the key reasons libraries are such a trusted part of every community. In a world that thrives on surveillance and data mining, libraries provide a safe place for users of all ages to seek out information free from unreasonable intrusion into or surveillance of their use. As libraries across the world have shut their doors due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we face the challenge of upholding our commitment to not monitor, track, or profile an individual’s library use beyond our operational needs.
The Privacy Perils of Contact Tracing in Libraries
As communities struggle with the COVID-19 pandemic, libraries are faced with the decision to institute contact tracing, monitoring who comes into the library and restricting access to those who don’t provide their personal information. Libraries should only perform contact tracing when mandated by public health or local officials. If your library is required to perform contact tracing there are specific ways that you can go about it that minimize the risks to users.