[Libs-Or] Tuesday Topics: Work with vendors to protect patron privacy

[Miranda Doyle]

Welcome to Tuesday Topics, a monthly series covering topics with
intellectual freedom implications for libraries of all types.  Each message
is prepared by a member of OLA's Intellectual Freedom Committee. Questions can
be directed to the IF Committee member who sent the message or to one of
the co-chairs of the  <goog_18906496>IFC.
<http://www.olaweb.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=523:intellectual-freedom-about-us&catid=20:site-content>

Vendors & Patron Privacy

What kind of electronic resources does your library license, and what
information do these companies collect about your patrons?

Librarians can advocate for patron privacy by working with vendors.
Companies that provide services -- from circulation system software to
ebooks to other digital content -- may not be as aware of privacy concerns
as we are, and we can point out instances where companies are unnecessarily
collecting and storing data on individual patrons.

A school library example

A large group of school librarians from the Portland metro area meets each
month in in Oregon City to share ideas and discuss library-related issues.
Many of us use Follett’s Destiny Library Manager, one of the most popular
library circulation systems for schools. During a discussion on patron
privacy and data collection, we talked about the fact that Destiny collects
individual user circulation data, and that this circulation history could
not be cleared by patrons or librarians.

An October 2015 article in School Library Journal, “FL School District Lets
Parents See What Kids Are Reading”
<http://www.slj.com/2015/10/censorship/fl-school-district-lets-parents-see-what-kids-are-reading/#_>,
concerned some of us. We felt that school districts should have choices
about what data they keep on library patrons and how long they keep it.

We drafted a letter to Follett asking that they modify their software to
provide an option for clearing circulation history. We noted that other
library circulation systems, including those used by public libraries, have
more privacy options. Some even allow patrons to choose whether to keep
their circulation history or erase it once items are returned. Nine school
and district-level librarians signed the letter.

Follett responded promptly to say that they would make the software change.
They currently have an update that will allow school districts to decide
whether to immediately delete patron circulation data when items are
returned, keep this information for a year, or keep it longer. They are
providing this update to Destiny Library Manager on April , 2016, as part
of the Destiny 13.5 AU1 release.

I am pleased that our group brought up the issue of patron privacy and data
collection, and that Follett responded so quickly to our concerns. We think
this is a good example of how librarians can influence vendors and make
sure our patrons are protected.

Consider your own library vendors

Take a moment to think about your library’s electronic resources. What
companies do you use to purchase these resources? What are their privacy
policies? What data do they collect and store? Some of that data may be
helpful -- usage statistics, for example.

However, if the browsing, reading, or research habits of individual patrons
can be identified from that collected data, it might be time to start a
conversation with that vendor.

Resources

ALA Library Privacy Guidelines for E-book Lending and Digital Content
Vendors
<http://www.ala.org/advocacy/library-privacy-guidelines-e-book-lending-and-digital-content-vendors>

General information on working with/negotiating with vendors

Ashmore, Beth, Jill E. Grogg, and Jeff Weddle. The Librarian's Guide to
Negotiation: Winning Strategies for the Digital Age. Medford, NJ:
Information Today, 2012. Print.

Negotiation of E-Resource Licensing & Pricing Terms
<http://www.ala.org/alcts/confevents/upcoming/webinar/050714> (ALA webinar)

NASIGuide: A Beginner’s Guide to Working with Vendors
<http://www.nasig.org/uploaded_files/92/files/Publications/WorkingVendors.pdf>


​_________________​


Miranda Doyle

District Librarian, Lake Oswego School District

Intellectual Freedom Chair, OASL

doylem at loswego.k12.or.us
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