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Lynn University Library Assistants' Guide

Everything you need to know to be a successful library assistant!

Patron Confidentiality

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:

  • Personal information (addresses, phone numbers, etc.) of people in the patron database
  • Fines and fees of a student requested by a parent without the student's permission
  • The name of a person who has checked out a particular item.
  • Review of past users of an item or book.
  • The nature of a patron's reference request or database search.
  • The names of persons who have used DVD or Reserve materials.
  • Circulation records for any person other than the requestor.
  • Identification of students who borrowed reserved items.
  • Circulation records of students suspected of plagiarism.

If you are feeling pressured, please contact your supervisor or the librarian on duty.

Examples

These are the kinds of privacy/confidentiality issues that you might encounter in the library:

  • Your friend: Hey, can you look up the record of that cute guy and get me his phone number?
  • A frantic student: I need to use the Statistics textbook now before my test! I think my friend has it checked out.  Can you tell me if she is using it now?
  • A professor: I need to know which of the students in my class checked out the course reserves this semester. Can you print me out a list?
  • A mental health counselor: I just read an article that says that people who read the book "Suicide 101" are at risk of actually attempting suicide. I need to know which of our students have read this book. 
  • Law enforcement: I'm keeping an eye on those Muslims who are always hanging around campus talking in Arabic.  I think they are being radicalized. I have some of their names, and I need you to tell me right now what books they have checked out. Here's my badge - you can see that I am a sworn officer of the law.

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."  

 

Lynn Library User Privacy and Confidentiality Policies

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:

  • Materials checked out at the Circulation and Reserves Desk
  • Interlibrary Loan
  • Reference questions, interviews, and consultations
  • Use of e-books, articles, and periodicals
  • Database search records
  • Use of library facilities, equipment, or services
  • Discussions with library staff concerning your account, fines, and money owed

Confidentiality Agreement