Libraries put emphasis on privacy of patrons

The Albany Times Union (Albany,NY) takes a look at Patron Privacy Policies in the Albany area. For fear of sticky situations, libraries are bolstering privacy policies and taking heat from patrons. Some librarians said patrons are frustrated by the increased security measures.
“If there is a statute on the books, I understand their need to protect themselves, but you can’t even pick up a book for your spouse on an errand,” she asked. “What are we compromising?”

March 7, 2006 by Uncategorized 7

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7 Responses

  1. Brian G. says:
    March 7, 2006 at 7:46 pm

    Picking up Books
    I guess I see a difference between a joint checking account where the bank and both parties know that everyone has access, and a library account where the library has no knowledge on how she attained the card. Do public libraries offer joint ownership on library accounts/cards? For example, in many academic libraries a faculty member can add a graduate student to their account to pick up items. It would allow a library to set a level of privacy they will maintain for patrons, but give patrons the option to lower their level of personal privacy for their own convenience.

    I guess she would have been shocked if the husband had books about divorce, porn, etc. on reserve and the library offered those to her as well.

    Reply
  2. GregS* says:
    March 8, 2006 at 3:45 am

    Re:Picking up Books
    If he’s asking for those books its unlikely he would be asking his wife to go pick up something else just in case. Now days you can be contacted by email which helps avoid the sticky situation of spouses knowing you have any materials on request at all.

    If people need sensitive information they aren’t likely to take it home though if they didn’t want someone there seeing it. If there’s no office to take it to then either the library has what they want on the shelf or they’ll be spending a few evenings at the nearest B&N.

    Reply
  3. Anonymous Patron says:
    March 8, 2006 at 6:27 am

    Re:Picking up Books
    Banks are profit-oriented entities where customer satisfaction measurement can be linked to “the bottom line”. Public libraries are monopolies that give lip service to customer satisfaction but are spineless when it comes to effecting strategies much beyond renaming and rearrangement.

    Reply
  4. Anonymous Patron says:
    March 8, 2006 at 6:31 am

    Precisely
    Or, on a per-book basis.

    — Ender, Duke_of_URL

    Reply
  5. Brian G. says:
    March 8, 2006 at 7:26 am

    Re:Picking up Books
    I do not know what libraries you have worked in or used, but every library I have worked in our budget was directly linked to customer satisfaction.

    Reply
  6. leeb says:
    March 8, 2006 at 1:30 pm

    There is privacy, and there is privacy
    Frankly, in a public place, there is privacy but not the sort of privacy you can have at home, simply because you are in a public place. If you want the kind of privacy you can have at home, then stay at home. Don’t expect it at a public place like the library.

    Reply
  7. Brian G. says:
    March 9, 2006 at 6:12 am

    Re:There is privacy, and there is privacy
    Huh? How does your comment relate to the article which is about the privacy the library offers in respect to checking out requested books only to the patron that requested them? You cannot do that at home, unless you purchase all your books.

    Reply

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