Kaubisch Memorial Public Library

The Board and staff of the Kaubisch Memorial Public Library will protect each user's right to privacy with respect to information sought or received, and materials consulted, borrowed or acquired.

Staff are not to relate knowledge which falls under client confidentiality to friends or family, no matter how innocent such information may seem. The information for instance that "John Doe checked out books on cancer" may lead others to suspect that John Doe, or a member of his family is suffering from this disease. Neither are staff members to share any information listed on a borrower's registration or record to anyone other than that patron.

There may come a time when government officials or law enforcement officers ask to obtain information about a user's borrowing habits. In this case the following procedure shall be followed:

1. The staff member receiving the request to examine or obtain information relating to circulation or other records identifying the names of library users, will immediately refer the person making the request to the director or other authorized authority who will explain the confidentiality policy.
2. The director, upon receipt of such process, order, or subpoena, shall consult with the appropriate legal officer assigned to the institution to determine if such process, order or subpoena is in good faith and if there is a showing of good cause for its issuance.
3. If the process, order, or subpoena is not in proper form or if good cause has not been shown, insistence shall be made that such defects be cured before any records are released. (The legal process requiring the production of circulation or other library records shall ordinarily be in the form of subpoena "duces tecum" [bring your records] requiring the responsible officer to attend court or the taking of his/her deposition and may require him/her to bring along certain designated circulation or other specified records.)
4. Any threats or unauthorized demands (i.e., those not supported by a process, order, or subpoena) concerning circulation and other records identifying the names of library users shall be reported to the appropriate legal officer of the institution.
5. Any problems relating to the privacy of circulation and other records identifying the names of library users which are not provided for above shall be referred to the responsible officer.
6. All procedures related to the above shall be relayed to the Board of Library Trustees in a timely manner.

Approved by the Library Board of Trustees - July 23, 1998