Stacy Alesi
Information Desk Librarian
stalesi@lynn.edu
561-237-7558
The Lynn Library respects the privacy of all patrons; as such, under no circumstances may workers give out a patron's personal information.
Requests for a patron's personal information should never be honored. Personal information includes, but is not limited to:
If you are feeling pressured, please contact your supervisor or the librarian on duty.
These are the kinds of privacy/confidentiality issues that you might encounter in the library:
What should YOU do?
Privacy conflicts are tricky! What should you do when a frantic student, an arrogant instructor, or even a law enforcement officer with a badge ask you for information about a library user?
Good news: you only need to remember one thing. For all of these examples, your response can be the same:
"I'm sorry, that is confidential information protected by library policy. I can't share that information."
If the person persists in asking for that information:
"Let me get my supervisor (or the librarian on duty) to talk to you."
The Lynn University Library believes strongly in protecting the privacy of all who use its services, in-person and online. In this library, the right to privacy is the right to open inquiry without having the subject of one’s interest examined or scrutinized by others.
Library staff will not reveal the identity of patrons or materials checked out, except as required by law (Florida Statute Section 257.261). Our commitment to patron privacy and confidentiality has deep roots not only in law, but also in the ethics and practices of librarianship. In accordance with the American Library Association’s Code of Ethics: “We protect each library user’s right to privacy and confidentiality with respect to information sought or received and resources consulted, borrowed, acquired, or transmitted.”
Consequently, Library staff members hold in confidence to the extent allowable by law all information about individual Library users and their choices of research or study material. Please help the Library protect your friends' and colleagues' right to privacy, and your right, by not asking staff members for this kind of information. This information will not be shared with any other individual, including family members.
Your Rights of Privacy & Confidentiality
The Rights of Privacy and Confidentiality include but are not limited to these services: