[Web4lib] COPPA in Libraries

[Tim Spalding]

Is your question about enforcing COPPA on data entered into library
systems, or is it about external access?

COPPA falls on the operator of a commercial website targeted to
children that collects personally identifiable information. Unless I
am mistaken, it isn't just the "commercial" that probably excepts
libraries, but the rest of it too. That is, website that gets children
to enter birth dates and emails may be running afoul of COPPA, but the
library that provides computers on which a child might find that
website isn't. And some library web app (ie., an OPAC) would only run
afoul not only if the library were ruled commercial, but if the app.
were targeted at children and collected personally identifiable
information.

As they say, I am not a lawyer. (And thank God for that!)

Tim

On Mon, Sep 14, 2009 at 11:07 AM, Kozlowski,Brendon <bkozlowski at sals.edu> wrote:
> Just to clarify - I'm the library's web administrator; I'm not asking
> about filtering out pages to prevent children from sending information
> within the library's computers, I'm primarily asking about how website
> editors within the library community are following the COPPA policies.
> Although we are a public library, we are not considered as a non-profit
> entity, and therefore are sometimes considered to be a "commercial"
> entity, which COPPA jurisdiction covers (commercial).  We don't sell
> services or items in the typical sense, but libraries, I would imagine,
> fall within a gray area here; I'd prefer to be on the safe side of that
> gray area and just wonder how others strive to abide by it, and what
> should be covered under it (such as online chat, email contact forms,
> application forms, etc...).
>
>
>
>
>
> Brendon Kozlowski
>
> Web Administrator
>
> Saratoga Springs Public Library
>
> 49 Henry Street
>
> Saratoga Springs, NY, 12866
>
> [518] 584-7860 x217
>
>
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