[Publib] RE legal/ethical issue

[Theyer, Hillary]

Where I work, we endeavor to keep use of the library card completely
separate from behavior in the library.  For a couple of reasons. One is
that we are a multi-branch system, and being asked to leave one branch
does not automatically get you barred from the system.  Second, the
privacy issue.  If someone has been banned from the library for 30 days
for behavior, is it necessarily the business of anyone and everyone with
access to the circulation system?  Third, we offer a lot of databases,
services, etc from home with a library card, and we don't cut people off
from that form of service even if their behavior in the library has not
been appropriate or has caused a problem.  Barring the card sometimes
causes problems with accessing the databases, reserving materials, etc.
We have other recordkeeping forms for behavior problems, and the library
card is supposed to be strictly borrowing materials and using the
internet in the library.  

We do use the notes field to tell people things - we will add a note for
a lost item in the library "wallet found at X branch, in branch safe"
and we will bar a card for returned mail, disconnected phone, etc.  

Hillary Theyer