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Policy on Confidentiality of Library Records:
The Library’s mission supports open inquiry,
the privacy and confidentiality of Library records as defined by
the American Library Association’s Code of Ethics, Article
III, and the civil rights and liberties guaranteed under the United
States Constitution and Bill of Rights. In general, the University
of Pennsylvania Library’s policy about the confidentiality
of circulation records is based on Pennsylvania Statute
[24 P.S.:4428] which reads:
4428. Library circulation records
Records related to the circulation of library materials which
contain the names or other personally identifying details regarding
the users of the State Library or any local library which is established
or maintained under any law of the Commonwealth or the library
of any university, college or educational institution chartered
by the Commonwealth or the library of any public school or branch
reading room, deposit station or agency operated in connection
therewith, shall be confidential and shall not be made
available to anyone except by a court order in a criminal proceeding
(emphasis added).
As a consequence of the USA Patriot Act and
its progeny, there may be increased requests for information.
However, to protect privacy, access to all circulation information
and/or records-of-use files are private and confidential. Therefore,
Library employees should
not disclose details of a patron’s record or use of the
Library to anyone other than an authorized Library employee. Refer
ALL requests for patron or staff information to the individuals
designated below.
Follow these steps:
In case a Library employee
receives a request for patron and staff information (this includes,
but is not limited to, requests from law enforcement agencies, judicial
orders) -
1.
Do NOT disclose information. Respond that:
“As a matter of Library
policy all requests for patron information must be directed to
Library’s Director or his/her designees who will confer
with the University’s Office of General Counsel.”
2.
Call a contact on the following list. This
designated contact will issue instructions about the next steps.
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Director, Administative Services (John
Keane)
239 Van Pelt Dietrich Library Center
Office: 215-898-5933
Home: 410-244-1953
Cell phone: 410-979-9937 |
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Acting Co-Director, Public Services (Marjorie Hassen)
224 Van Pelt Dietrich Library Center
Office: 215-898-2817
Home: 610-446-7861
Cell: 610-716-0828 |
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Manager, Operations Services (Tom Wilson)
235 Van Pelt Dietrich Library Center
Office: 215-898-5948
Beeper: 215-961-5723 |
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Vice Provost and Director of Libraries (Carton Rogers)
237 Van Pelt Dietrich Library Center
Office: 215-898-7091
Home: 215-828-3113
Cell: 215-528-0046 |
3.
To protect confidentiality of the individual:
Do NOT disclose that a request for information
has been made except to Library administration
and senior University administration ; i.e. do not discuss the request
outside the chain of command (not with co-workers, friends, family,
etc.).
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