Pasco County Library System

PASCO COUNTY LIBRARYSYSTEMPOLICY MANUAL

SECTION:PUBLIC SERVICES

POLICY TITLE:CONFIDENTIALITYOFLIBRARYRECORDS

EFFECTIVEDATE:MAY 1994

REVISED:JUNE 1997

JANUARY 2004

Philosophy:

Asthechoiceofbooksandotherlibrarymaterials,alongwiththeuseoftheinformationalresourcesofthelibrary,isapersonalandprivateendeavoronthepartofeachindividualpatron,adultorchild,thelibraryshallmakeeveryefforttoseethatinformationaboutthatpersonandhischoicesremainsconfidential.Tomakefullandeffectiveuseoflibraryresources,peoplemustbeconfidentthatotherswillnotbecomeawareofwhatbookstheyread,thematerialstheyuse,thequestionstheyask.SuchapossibilitywouldinhibitfreeusageofthelibraryandiscontrarytotheAmericanLibraryAssociationBillofRightsandFreedomtoReadStatementandthefreedomsguaranteedbythe U.S. Constitution.

Statement ofPolicy:

ItistheintentofthePascoCountyLibrarySystemtoprotecttheprivacyofthosewhousetheLibrary.TheLibrary collectsandmaintainsonlytheminimumnumberofrecordsnecessaryfor maintainingoperations.

InaccordancewithFloridaStateStatute257.261, thePascoCountyLibrarySystemshallnotdiscloseanyrecordorotherinformationthatidentifiesauseroflibraryservicesasrequestingorobtainingspecificmaterialsorservicesorasotherwiseusingtheLibrary.Libraryuser recordsmaybedisclosed onlyin thefollowingcircumstances:

• Inaccordancewithaproperjudicialorder.Ifacourtorder,searchwarrantorsubpoenaisissued.Beforecomplying,thelibrarywillconsultthePascoCountyAttorney’sOffice to assurethe document is in proper form.

• Forthepurposeofcollectingfinesorrecoveringoverduebooks,documents,films, orother items ormaterials owned orotherwise belonging to thelibraryonly, the librarymaydisclose information to

1.Thelibrarypatron namedin the records

2.Inthecaseofalibrarypatronlessthan16yearsofage,theparentorguardian ofthat patron named in the records

3.Anyentitythat collects fines on behalf of thelibrary

4.Municipal orcountylawenforcementofficials

5.Judicial officials

Anyperson whoviolatesthe Statute commits a misdemeanorof the seconddegree.

US Patriot Act of 2001:

Libraryusersshouldbe awarethattheUSAPatriotActof2001increasestheauthorityoffederalinvestigativeagenciestocompelthedisclosureofpersonalinformationthroughuseoforders dulyissuedbyafederalcourtoflawfuljurisdiction.Underprovisionsoftheact,theFederalBureauofInvestigation(FBI)andlawenforcementofficialsmayseekcourtordersforlibraryrecordsforinvestigationsrelevanttonationalsecurityorterrorism.Librariesorlibrariansservedwiththeseordersmaynotdisclose,underpenaltyoflaw,theexistenceoftheorders or thefactthatrecordswereproducedasaresultoftheorders.Library userscannotbetoldtheirrecordsweregivento lawenforcementagenciesorthat theywere the subjects of FBIinvestigations.

For additional information consult theLibrary’sPrivacyStatement.