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Public Library Privacy Issues in the Web 2.0 World. OLA/WLA Joint Conference April 17, 2008 Cindy Gibbon, Access Services Coordinator, Multnomah County Library. MCL users say they want:. Notification when requested items are added to the catalog Public comments/recommendations of books read
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Public Library Privacy Issues in the Web 2.0 World OLA/WLA Joint Conference April 17, 2008 Cindy Gibbon, Access Services Coordinator, Multnomah County Library
MCL users say they want: • Notification when requested items are added to the catalog • Public comments/recommendations of books read • Blogs, podcasts, instant message reference • A Netflix style of item delivery • Text message to cell phones of waiting holds and upcoming due dates
And they also want: • To easily retrieve username and password • To save a list of titles rather than a list of searches • To pay fines online • A personal connection through technology (libraryelf.com, RLS feeds, Go-Go Google gadget, RSS feeds mentioned) • Ability to chat with people at their local library online; to make comments, respond to blogs and create reviews
The December 2007 Pew study says: • 84% of English-speaking Hispanics have cell phones • 74% of White Americans have cell phones • 71% of Black Americans have cell phones • On a typical day, more than half of English-speaking Hispanics do something on their cell phone that might involve sending or receiving data.
Source: Pew Internet & American Life Project Survey, December 2007
What library users want: • Convenience • To communicate with us via their preferred media • To have a personalized experience • To participate • To have a relationship
What library staff want • To be the experts • To maintain a safe distance • To be inside our comfort zone • To preserve our information ideals: privacy, authority and neutrality
Web 2.0 privacy challenges • Creating records we didn’t previously create (e.g. blogs, chat transcripts) • Keeping records we previously deleted (e.g reading lists, saved bibliographies, MyLibrary tools) • Sending records into realms we don’t control (e.g. text message notices, rss feeds) • Inviting personalization and participation (blogs, tags
Some Library 2.0 privacy principles • Inform the patron • Let the patron choose (opt in, NOT opt out) • Allow the patron to control the record if possible • Address privacy requirements in vendor contracts • Disaggregate PII from records to be retained long term
More principles • Update your privacy policy • Train staff • Audit your privacy practices • Train your attorney
Choice and consent… If we make a service available for your convenience that may in some way lessen our ability to protect the privacy of your personally identifiable information or the confidentiality of information about your use library materials and services, we will: 1.) Provide you with a privacy warning regarding that service; and 2.) Make it possible for you to opt in or opt out of that service.
Third party security Some users may choose to take advantage of RSS feeds from the library catalog, public blogs, hold and overdue notices by e-mail or text message and similar services that send personal information related to library use via public communications networks. These users must also be aware that the library has limited ability to protect the privacy of this information once it is outside our control.
Privacy warning By subscribing to My Reading History, I acknowledge that Multnomah County Library's online library system will retain for my personal use a list of all materials that I borrow. I may unsubscribe from this service or remove any or all titles from my reading history at any time. Library staff will not access or release my reading history unless required by law to do so. I understand that anyone with access to my library card number and PIN can check my reading history or any other information attached to my account. Please review the privacy policy for more information about Multnomah County Library's confidentiality practices.
Privacy audit • Karen Coyle, Infopeople • http://www.kcoyle.net/infopeople/ • What data is recorded? • Where is it located? • Who has access? • How long is data kept? • What are people really doing? • What needs to change?
Public employees, privacy and personal responsibility • Public records issues • Staff issues • Need for updated thinking and policies
References • ALA privacy audit materials http://www.ala.org/ala/oif/statementspols/otherpolicies/privacyaudit.cfm • http://www.blyberg.net/2006/08/18/go-go-google-gadget/ • MCL privacy policy http://www.multcolib.org/about/pol-privacy.html