DATA PRIVACY

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HCL Administrative Policy

  
 

Section: CS1

Release Date: June 1998

Replaces Issue Dated: November 1996

Responsibility: Public Services/Technical Services/Human Resources

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POLICY

Hennepin County Library data privacy policy and procedures are based on the Minnesota Data Practices Act. Most recently amended in the 1996 legislative session, it states (in Article 1, Section 7, Subd. 2, PRIVATE DATA; LIBRARY BORROWERS):

(a) Except as provided in paragraph (b), the following data maintained by a library are private data on individuals and may not be disclosed [except to the subject of the data] for other than library purposes except pursuant to a court order:

  1. data that link a library patron’s name with materials requested or borrowed by the patron or that link a patron’s name with a specific subject about which the patron has requested information or materials; or
  2. data in applications for borrower cards, other than the name of the borrower.

(b)A library may release reserved materials to a family member or other person who resides with a library patron and who is picking up the material on behalf of the patron. A patron may request that reserved materials be released only to the patron.

At HCL this translates to:

Private data: may be given only to the subject of the data (and, if a minor, the parents or guardians)
    1. the titles of items on loan or overdue
    2. the titles of items on reserve

      3. Note: Except as provided in paragraph (b) above.
    3. subjects about which a patron has requested information
    4. patron address, phone number, birthdate

Public data: available to anyone who requests it
    1. number of overdues (e.g., Mr. Smith, your wife/father/grandfather has 3 items overdue)
    2. fines and/or bills owed (amounts, not titles) (e.g., Mr. Smith, your wife owes $5.00 in fines)
    3. number of items on reserve (e.g., Mr. Smith, your mother has reserved 12 titles)
    4. patron last activity date (the last time the patron had activity on Dynix)
    5. patron name


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