[WEB4LIB] Re: Privacy, the USA Patriot Act, electronic fingerprinting to replace library cards etc.

[Phillip B. Whitford]

Dan Lester Wrote:

"Any library circulation system I've heard of breaks the link between
borrower and item as soon as the item is returned and any delinquencies
(fines, etc.) cleared up."

Dan there are a couple of current GUI automation systems, and at least
one much older text based system, that maintain a borrower's history.
Sometimes the feature can be turned on and off for individual patrons.
Sometimes it's a system wide feature. At least one system keeps a
borrower history of all fines levied and paid and what items caused them
to be generated.

I agree with Karen Harker that library folk tend to have a false sense
of security regarding the computer privacy. Backups, system logs,
firewall logs, Internet sign up sheets, computer reservation systems,
browser histories, ISP logs, etc. can be used together or separately to
pierce the thin curtain of privacy. How many libraries today have
security cameras with attached video recorders watching Circulation
Desks or computer labs?

Phillip B. Whitford
Manager of Information Systems
Braswell Memorial Library
Rocky Mount, NC 27804
Opinions expressed are not necessarily those of Braswell Library.
  

-----Original Message-----
From: web4lib at webjunction.org [mailto:web4lib at webjunction.org]
On Behalf Of Dan Lester
Sent: Tuesday, July 30, 2002 9:50 AM
To: Multiple recipients of list
Subject: [WEB4LIB] Re: Privacy, the USA Patriot Act, electronic
fingerprinting to replace library cards etc.


Being brave or foolish, I don't care if he's who he says he is.

Tuesday, July 30, 2002, 4:21:31 AM, you wrote:

RP> The sort of issues I am interested in include:

RP> To what extent is the Patriot Act being used to check on the reading

RP> habits of library patrons? How has this changed the situation? Is 
RP> this good or bad?

Most librarians would say the PATRIOT ACT (which is the proper name, as
it is an acronym) is bad.  Who knows if it has changed things, since
you're subject to penalties yourself if you disclose that the feds have
come in under the act to investigate someone.

RP> What other privacy issues are there that librarians should be aware 
RP> of?

Same ones we've known of forever.  There is plenty of literature on all
this in print and on the web.

RP> What should librarians do to protect the privacy of their patrons? 
RP> Should they?

They should follow the laws.  In most states this means not disclosing
much of anything to anyone without a court order.  That's as it should
be.  Yes, the new federal law contradicts most state library laws.  I
guess that's for the attorneys to fight over.  I'll follow state law
until ordered otherwise.

RP> What duties (legal and ethical) do librarians have to society/law 
RP> enforcement agencies to reveal sensitive/private information?

Our duties are to follow the laws to the best of our abilities.

RP> Do librarians have librarian/client privilege?

In a theoretical sense, yes.  However, I don't think it has ever been
tested in court and upheld like it would be for a doctor or lawyer.

RP> Do library training courses currently include ethical issues like 
RP> privacy? Should they?

Yes.  Of course.  Some of these questions being asked are really lame.
Are you sure you're not a student in Lib Sci 101?

RP> What's the world coming to if I can't read with anonymity a library 
RP> book?

Uhhhhh.....oh, hell, I'll leave all the smart answers to others.  I'm
not feeling clever enough this morning.

RP> Or is this merely a fair and unnoteworthy price to pay for 
RP> protecting the world against terrorists?

All depends, I suppose.  Of course we haven't established yet what that
price is, and we've not had any proof that paying the price will protect
anyone.

RP> Is this mainly a public library issue, or are there 
RP> similar/different issues for academic and corporate libraries?

Same issues in public as in publicly supported academic.  Somewhat
different for private academic, and definitely different in corporate,
where the user doesn't have, and shouldn't expect, any privacy.

RP> How much is this a specifically US issue?

Hey, you asked about the PATRIOT ACT, right?

RP> Are there comparable issues in other countries? What issues?

Probably.

RP> In what way is technology changing the debate? Is it?

You've asked enough stuff here to write a book, not just an article. Of
course technology is a factor, in about a dozen different dimensions.

RP> What is the current situation, for instance, with regard to library 
RP> automation systems: are they encouraging the use of new 
RP> technological methods that might cause privacy concerns (maintenance

RP> of records on reading habits/ electronic fingerprinting techniques 
RP> etc.), or are they being designed to automatically erase records. Is

RP> this good or bad?

Any library circulation system I've heard of breaks the link between
borrower and item as soon as the item is returned and any delinquencies
(fines, etc.) cleared up.  Of course one could be designed differently,
and some added information might be gleaned from backup tapes for some
period of time.  The online systems have actually increased privacy, as
in "the olden days" your name that you signed on the card in the book
pocket stayed there for a long time.

RP> Are there issues also with regard to the tracking of usage of online

RP> databases like Dialog/Lexis-Nexis etc.? What issues?

Well, if you log into them individually, sure.  However, in most
libraries the user doesn't log in to the system, so you can't easily
tell who did the search on making pipe bombs.  Again, such would/could
be possible if you had video surveillance and so forth on all your
computers.

RP> Other issues?

Not enough yet?

RP> I welcome comments for anyone with views and/or personal experience 
RP> of this. I am happy for any comments to be on or off the record (so 
RP> long as I know who has contacted me),

I don't do off the record.  Anything I say is always public and I'll
always stand behind it.  Anyone who does otherwise is dreaming, as
"secrets" and "off the record" and "for your eyes only" always come back
to bite you.

cheers

dan



-- 
Dan Lester, Data Wrangler  dan at RiverOfData.com 208-283-7711 3577 East
Pecan, Boise, Idaho  83716-7115 USA www.riverofdata.com
www.gailndan.com  Stop Global Whining!