@article{b52aad1c0cd744a4bcabc02cdfc0b007,
title = "Patron Privacy Protections in Public Libraries",
abstract = "Public libraries are an invaluable institution in the United States, and the digital revolution has posed many challenges for them. With the American Library Association{\textquoteright}s updated “Library Bill of Rights” and public library services increasingly moving online in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the protection of patron privacy in public libraries is an important and timely topic of study. However, there is a lack of empirical data regarding privacy practices and the challenges that public libraries face. To fill this gap, we conducted an online survey that was sent to more than 12,500 public librarians across the country to study the state of patron privacy practices and challenges in public libraries. This study is the first of its kind on this topic. Our results show that patron privacy protections vary drastically depending on the library{\textquoteright}s size and service area. This study provides essential knowledge for administrators and policy makers in public libraries.",
author = "Tian Wang and Chieh-Li Chin and Christopher Benner and Hayes, {Carol M} and Yang Wang and Masooda Bashir",
note = "This project is funded by the NLGs for libraries from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). The grant is meant to support a national forum for experts, researchers, and public librarians to gather, learn, and discuss what practices and policies are currently in place to protect public library patrons{\textquoteright} privacy in the United States. Because of COVID-19 restrictions on travel and in-person meetings, we conducted an online survey of public library employees (in lieu of an in-person forum) so public librarians could share their practices and challenges on patron privacy. During the data collection period from March 2021 through the end of June 2021, we collected more than 2,000 online survey responses from professionals affiliated with public libraries (including librarians, library staff, and/or supervisors, library administrations, and information technology [IT] staff) in the United States. The response rate of this survey study is about 17%, which we believe is reasonable given that the survey was sent out during a global pandemic in summer 2021 and that email invitations are more likely to be perceived as spam and as less legitimate and thus have lower response rates than traditional methods (Manfreda et al. 2008). The study has been reviewed and approved by the institutional review board at our university. Several researchers have prepared primers to help librarians improve their privacy practices, either overall or in a particular area. Bobbi Newman and Bonnie Tijerina (2017) published a Library Information and Technology Association guide on protecting patron privacy, which covers topics such as “privacy law and regulation,”“use, security, and ethics of data collection,” and “third-party services in libraries.” Similarly, Marshall Breeding (2016) surveyed providers of common library services to help determine “how well they defend patron privacy and handle overall security” (13). Matthew Beckstrom (2015) published a booklet on how to ensure patron privacy on public computers, with guidance that can be readily applied to public libraries. Melissa Mallon (2017) explained that the San Jose Public Library has developed an online “Virtual Privacy Lab,” which helps educate users about how they can protect their data online. Similarly, Alex Caro and Chris Markman (2016) devised a scale by which libraries can judge the privacy practices of their vendors. The authors identified seven areas in which libraries can assess their vendors: “data breach policy,” “data encryption,”“data retention,”“secure connections,”“click tracking,” clarity of their “terms of service,” and involvement in “advertising networks.” Some NLG submissions in recent years have centered on patron privacy in public libraries. Montana State University (2018) investigated whether web analytics—which may be used to refine services—should be used in libraries, given their implications for privacy. In addition, the Alameda County Library (2019) was given an NLG to publish “privacy advocacy guides” to be dispensed at the ALA annual conference and other meetings. The work by Chuck McAndrew (2020) encouraging the use of virtual private networks (VPNs) was also funded by an NLG. Other NLGs focused on privacy in the context of academic libraries are beyond the scope of this research.",
year = "2023",
month = jul,
doi = "10.1086/725069",
language = "English (US)",
volume = "93",
pages = "294--312",
journal = "Library Quarterly",
issn = "0024-2519",
publisher = "University of Chicago Press",
number = "3",
}