Confidentiality Policies and Procedures of the Reference Departments in Texas Academic Libraries.
Libraries are commonly viewed as "sanctuaries of ideas," and librarians are seen as the guardians of ideas and of the records the library and its users generate.1 Librarians are also viewed as researchers of reference questions and topics. As fa cilitators of research and keepers of rec ords, they have access to certain information about the users of the li brary?information that may be consid ered private. Lin owes and Hoyman note that librarians create records and collect
Online Privacy vs . Enhanced Virtual Reference : What do Patrons Really Want ?
Amy VanScoy is Assistant Head, Research and Information Services, email: amy_vanscoy@ncsu.edu; Megan Oakleaf is Librarian for Instruction and Undergraduate Research, email: megan_oakleaf@ncsu.edu; North Carolina State University Libraries. Abstract Librarians have a tradition of supporting patron confidentiality, historically putting systems in place to protect it. Some of today’s library systems, like sophisticated digital reference tools, now collect detailed patron information. Collecting this information could make patron privacy more vulnerable, but it can also help librarians improve service. Librarians who create policies about storage of information and request assistance from vendors should be familiar with the current privacy environment and solicit input from patrons; however, most librarians know very little about the opinions and needs of their patrons in this area. Are library patrons concerned about keeping their personal information private? Or do they appreciate the customized service sharing it provides? Do virtual reference patrons expect complete confidentiality of their reference transactions? Or do they trust the library and want it to use all information necessary to help them find information quickly? This paper will respond to these questions based on patron survey responses, other published research, news of the current environment, and informal conversations with patrons. This paper applies to librarians interested in ethics and values, as well as those working with virtual reference.
Ethical standards and data archives
As the traditional keeper of a society's records, the data archivist has the difficult responsibility of protecting the individual's right to privacy and at the same time valuing society's need for knowledge.