[Publib] Patron Confidentiality

[Lise Chlebanowski]

I'm well aware of the patron confidentiality laws and policies when it comes to checking out materials, but there are no materials involved in this process. Unlike receipts from a book checkout, there is absolutely no material information on these receipts. Only name, time and the fact that they used a computer, not even which one. 

 

Lisë Chlebanowski

Library Manager

Avondale Public Library

(623) 478-3105

lchlebanowski at avondale.org

"Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog it's too dark to read." 

Groucho Marx <http://www.quotationspage.com/quotes/Groucho_Marx/> 

 

 

________________________________

From: Mark Arend [mailto:Arend at winnefox.org] 
Sent: Wednesday, January 25, 2006 10:31 AM
To: Lise Chlebanowski
Subject: RE: [Publib] Patron Confidentiality

 

What are your state laws regarding confidentiality of library records?  Here in Wisconsin the police would need a court order to obtain the slips and they couldn't be given to the woman under any circumstance.

 

-------------------------------

Mark W. Arend, Interim Assistant Director
Winnefox Library System
106 Washington Ave.
Oshkosh, WI  54901
(920) 236-5222           fax: (920) 236-5228


mailto:arend at winnefox.org                 http://www.winnefox.org/

"A popular Government, without popular information, or the means of acquiring it, is but a Prologue to a Farce or a Tragedy."
                         -- James Madison


  

	 

	
________________________________


	From: publib-bounces at webjunction.org [mailto:publib-bounces at webjunction.org] On Behalf Of Lise Chlebanowski
	Sent: Wednesday, January 25, 2006 11:01 AM
	To: publib at webjunction.org
	Subject: [Publib] Patron Confidentiality

	This is kind of a weird question, but I thought I'd pick the collective brain. We have a small computer room - 10 computers - and yesterday one of our patrons left her purse next to the computer she was using and when she came back it was gone along with her wallet with $500 and cards inside. She contacted the police and has filed a report with them. Her charge cards are already being used at various locations. Here's the dilemma: We have no reservation software. We handle computers by checking them out like books. Then we print a receipt for each checkout with the time stamped on it so that we can monitor use based on time. When the person checks the computer back in, we throw the receipt away. The patron came back last night and asked if she could have the receipts that we were throwing away as she felt that information might help. I told her that I didn't feel comfortable handing the receipts to her, but that I would consider giving them to the police officer. The receipt has the name of the patron, their library card number and the time they checked into the computer. That's all that is on the receipt. It doesn't even say what computer they were using, what they did on the computer or anything like that. It would tell the officer all the people using the computers around the time her wallet was stolen. 

	 

	Should I offer the receipts to the officer? I'd like to help the patron, but I'm not sure it would help much anyway. That's my dilemma. What would pub-libbers do? 

	 

	Lisë Chlebanowski

	Library Manager

	Avondale Public Library

	(623) 478-3105

	lchlebanowski at avondale.org

	"Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog it's too dark to read." 

	Groucho Marx <http://www.quotationspage.com/quotes/Groucho_Marx/> 

	 

	 

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