[Publib] legal/ethical issue

[Mary Beachum]

Georgia PINES is a unified circulation system and catalog for 273 libraries
in 133 counties, some of which are organized into regional systems. The
Evergreen software includes a provision for a library to bar a patron for
severe offenses. These are usually behavioral, since the software is
programmed with a limit as to amount of fines or overdue books. The patron
must return to the barring library to clear up his/her card. This is seldom
used but I have not heard of any challenges to it on privacy or any other
grounds. When a person signs up for a PINES card, they are told it is
statewide. 

 

You can see the instructions at
http://open-ils.org/dokuwiki/doku.php?id=evergreen-user:patron_registration_
and_maintenance. Scroll down about halfway.

 

Mary M Beachum

East Central Georgia Regional Library

www.ecgrl.org

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From: publib-bounces at webjunction.org [mailto:publib-bounces at webjunction.org]
On Behalf Of Joan Pellikka
Sent: Tuesday, October 02, 2007 3:41 PM
To: publib at webjunction.org
Subject: [Publib] legal/ethical issue

 

Greetings,

 

I usually just lurk, but I really need your help here. I work in a rural
library system with more than 60 libraries. These are not branch libraries;
they are all separate entities with their own library boards. Very few of
them have any staff members with an MLS, including the library directors.
The library system uses SIRSI, but fewer than half of the libraries are
fully automated.

 

My question involves the use of SIRSI to indicate when a patron has been
barred. We have been having some discussion regarding the possibility of
libraries indicating when a patron is barred for reasons unrelated to
circulation issues, in particular when there has been a behavioral problem.
This information can be accessed by any of the participating libraries. Some
of us have expressed concern over this practice due to privacy &
confidentiality issues and the possible violation of civil rights.

 

We have been told that this use of SIRSI (and other automation systems) is
common in other library systems and we would like to know if this is the
case. If so, has anyone ever expressed the same concern that we have? Even
better, has any library system ever been legally challenged by a patron for
this practice and lost? Or, are our concerns completely unfounded and we
should not be concerned at all?

 

Any input on this at all would be very much appreciated.

 

Thank you,

Joan Pellikka

 

 

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