PRIVACY POLICY

Protecting user privacy and confidentiality has long been an integral part of the mission of libraries.  Both the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the Bill of Rights of the U.S. Constitution provide guarantees of confidentiality and privacy.  The library protects the privacy and confidentiality of children as well as adults.

Confidentiality of library records is covered in Pennsylvania Statutes 24 P.S. §  4428 (2003).  The library collects only that personally identifiable information about users that is needed for the functioning of the library.  Privacy and confidentiality protections are part of our library procedures.  The library retains personally identifiable information about users only as long as it is needed for library functions.

The library does not disclose or distribute (unless authorized) users’ names, postal addresses, e-mail addresses, phone numbers, borrower records, computer use records or other personal information to outside parties unless required to do so pursuant to subpoena, court order or where otherwise required to by law.  The library will resist the issuance or enforcement of any such process, order, or subpoena until such time as a proper showing of good cause has been made in a court or competent jurisdiction.

The Board of Directors of the Bucks County Free Library endorses “Privacy: an Interpretation of the Library Bill of Rights” adopted by the American Library Association Council June 19, 2002.

ADOPTED BY BOARD OF DIRECTORS

APRIL 15, 2003

PARENTAL ACCESS TO A CHILD'S LIBRARY CARD

Unfortunately, it is a violation of law (PA Statutes 24 P.S. §4428) for Pennsylvania libraries to provide you with information on your child’s library record. In order to obtain this information, we offer you some legal ways to get access to your child’s card:

1. If calling for information on what your child has out, etc. have your child
   nearby to verify that his/her record can be accessed.
2. If using ‘My Account” ask your child for his/her pin number.
3. We can send a letter by U.S. post, addressed to your child, to provide
   the information requested.
4. If at the library, and if your child is present, your child can assert that it is ok to
   access his/her record for the information sought.