Folks have been warned about not giving out personal information, but they may have never thought an old library book could hold their social security number.
It’s happening at the University of Toledo campus and likely all over the country — as books at UT’s Carlson Library from the 1980s or 90s, may still be in circulation – along with readers’ social security numbers.
I wonder
Now that this is in the local news, will they really be able to get away with leaving them on the shelf? Yes, it’s impractical and expensive. But it seems like a PR nightmare.
No they won’t. This
No they won’t. This recently happened to a friend of mine and the long-standing request that the former director had put in for funding to resolve this problem was funded after someone called the president’s office to complain.
Checking our shelves, I found that we had the same problem. Luckily the circulation staff had already decided to move the collection last summer and removed the cards at the same time.
Social Security numbers = student ID number
If anyone’s wondering why they would sign books out with their SSN: at at my university, at least in the late 1970’s-early 80’s, your student ID number was the same as your Social Security number. It was on your student ID card. To protect student privacy, grades were posted outside professors’ offices with ID numbers and no names.
We had the same problem…
… at my small academic library. We had student workers remove all of the old cards from our books. It only took a week or so, but I’m sure U. of Toledo has many times our number of volumes.
“We are hoping there’s
“We are hoping there’s only a few. Yes that’s right,” said Associate Dean of Libraries Marcia Suter.
Did anyone read this with a Jon Lovitz voice in their head?
“There’s only a few books. Yes, that’s the ticket!’
Identify Theft — Former Student/Employee
I experienced identity theft this spring and wondered if the information was obtained somehow at the University of Toledo. I grew up in Toledo, worked at the university for 10 years and then moved out of state. The identity theft was in my maiden name, which I had not used for over 28 years. I had not lived in Toledo for more than 18 years when I found out someone has opened an AT&T landline in my maiden name with my SSN in a neighborhood lining the University. My instinct told me someone obtained my personal information somehow at the University. Now I know my instincts were correct! GET THIS INFORMATION OUT OF THESE BOOKS NOW! Do you have any idea the potential loss you are creating for the former students and employees of the University. Correcting your credit record after identify theft like this is an arduous process.