RAYMOND VILLAGE LIBRARY

CONFIDENTIALITY OF LIBRARY RECORDS POLICY

The Raymond Village Library supports the concept of intellectual freedom and the right of each citizen, regardless of age, to free access to information without fear of intimidation, surveillance or reprisal. We therefore advise employees, volunteers and customers that all library records identifying the names of library users with specific materials or requests for information are confidential.

The sole purpose of customer identification in the circulation transaction is to ensure the return of the item.

Confidential library records include all transactions by an individual who is using library resources. This includes information sought or received; materials consulted .borrowed or acquired; reference interviews; circulation records; Internet usage; interlibrary loan records; registration records; and any other documents or electronic records which link an individual with particular materials or services.

The Library takes seriously its obligation to protect the privacy of every customer, as required by law. This commitment to customers' privacy may appear to cause inconvenience on occasion. This policy assures that an individual's reading preferences and use of the library will remain exclusively his or her own business.

For example, the Library will not divulge confidential information to anyone other than the borrower. Staff and volunteers will hold in strictest confidence information about questions library customer ask, items they consult or borrow, comments they express, or attitudes they reveal. In addition, records that link individual borrowers to specific library materials shall be retained only as long as necessary for the Library to perform necessary circulation functions.

This policy extends to those records involving patrons under the age of majority. Parents should be aware that if they want information about the items their child has checked out, the child must be present with the parent requesting the information. Without the child present, only the number of items checked out or the date due may be released. Title information may only be given to the person who actually borrowed the items.

All formal requests for circulation or registration records will be referred to the Library Director.

No records will be made available to any agency of local, county, state or federal government, except pursuant to such process, order, or subpoena as may be authorized under the authority of, and pursuant to, local, county, state or federal law relating to civil, criminal, or administrative discovery procedures or legislative investigative power.

This policy is in accordance with Maine State Law, Maine Revised Statutes, Title 27, Chapter 4-A, section 121:

Approved 2/28/2003