Adopted June 19, 2002, by the ALA Council; amended July 1, 2014; and June 24, 2019. State laws and how to respond to requests for user data. VII. The American Library Association Code of Ethics states the values to which we are committed, and embodies the ethical responsibilities of the profession in this changing information environment. 3Ten state constitutions guarantee a right of privacy or bar unreasonable intrusions into citizens privacy. Materials should not be proscribed or removed because of partisan or doctrinal disapproval. Libraries should advocate for, educate about, and WebLibrary Bill of Rights The American Library Association affirms that all libraries are forums for information and ideas, and that the following educate about, and protect peoples Libraries which make exhibit spaces and meeting rooms available to the public they serve should make such facilities available on an equitable basis, regardless of the beliefs or affiliations of individuals or groups requesting their use. Library Bill of Rights As existing contracts approach expiration, libraries should renegotiate future contracts to include these privacy safeguards. American Library Association. The American Library Association affirms that all libraries are forums for information and ideas, and that the following basic policies should guide their services. Data collected for analytical use should be limited to anonymous or aggregated data and not tied to individuals personal data. Below are the Rights in their original text taken from the American Library Associations Library Bill of Rights page, accompanied by explanations and examples of how library users might apply them in their own use of their libraries and how things have shaken out in the real world. Vocational Awe and Librarianship: The Lies We Tell Ourselves, grant a board of elected officials power to remove materials from a library, updated its stance around the use of meeting spaces by hate groups, revert to the previous interpretation of Right VI, resisted and reported government requests for information, Check in with us on Twitter to let us know, 20 Genre-Defying Fantasy Books You Won't be Able to Put Down, The Best New Book Releases Out June 27, 2023, The Bestselling Books of the Week, According to All the Lists, Here are the Best SFF and Horror Books of the Year, According to the Locus Awards, 8 Philosophical Books That Will Certainly Make You Think. Libraries use resources, programming, and services to strengthen access to information and thus build a foundation of intellectual freedom. VI. Records of specific public bodies and certain other limited exclusions - Paragraph 3, Washington Rev. What It Means: In the event a group or individual attempts to have materials or resources removed from the library, the library should resist. Dealing with censorship challenges at your library or need to get prepared for them? Amended 2014, Services to People with Disabilities:Libraries should be fully inclusive of all members of their community and strive to break down barriers to access. Ethical dilemmas occur when values are in conflict. WebAll people, regardless of origin, age, background, or views, possess a right to privacy and confidentiality in their library use. Amended 2014, Challenged Resources:ALA declares as a matter of firm principle that it is the responsibility of every library to have a clearly defined written policy for collection development that includes a procedure for review of challenged resources. Amended 2019, Expurgation of Library Materials:Expurgating library materials is a violation of the Library Bill of Rights. II. See the documents designated by the Intellectual Freedom Committee asInterpretations of the Library Bill of Rights. II. Because adults and, to a lesser degree minors, have First Amendment rights, libraries and schools that choose to use content filters should implement policies and procedures that mitigate the negative effects of filtering to the greatest extent possible. I. The Tennessee Library Association has been standing in opposition to this bill, which would effectively stand in direct contrast to Right III. The Library Bill of Rights, developed by the leading professional library association, the American Library Association, in 1939, reports the seven rights and guiding principles in library service. Libraries should provide materials and information presenting all points of view on current and historical issues. Library registration and circulation records, Hawaii Opinion Letter No. ALA Council adopted the article at the Midwinter Meeting in Seattle. Right I: Books and other library resources should be provided for the interest, information, and enlightenment of all people of the community the library serves. Materials should not be excluded because of the origin, background, or views of those contributing to their creation. Example: Many users may believe the inclusion of a book arguing for eugenics, for example, to be abhorrent and to have no place in a library. Opposites may attractbut can two very different people find lasting love? Example: The easiest-grab example of Right VII in action is the library response to the 2001 Act of the United States Congress known as the Patriot Act. Access to Digital Resources and Services:Digital resources and services allow libraries to significantly expand the scope of information available to users. Though the Library Bill of Rights may not be a document hanging on the wall of every household, its value to both libraries and library users is undeniable. Materials should not be excluded because of the origin, background, or views of those contributing to their creation. The revision process began with a joint working group of the Intellectual Freedom Committee (IFC) and Privacy Subcommittee. These basic principles should govern the service of all libraries. These court orders are issued following a showing of good cause based on specific facts by a court of competent jurisdiction. Amended 2019, User-Initiated Exhibits, Displays, and Bulletin Boards:Libraries may offer spaces for exhibits, displays, and bulletin boards in physical or digital formats as a benefit for their communities. Certainly not every instance of challenges is reported, however, so despite the lengthiness of the available data, there is more going on than what we see, making Right III incredibly important in combating attempts to abridge access to information and materials. The rights of minors to retrieve, create, and interact with information posted on the Internet in schools and libraries are extensions of their First Amendment rights. The American Library Association affirms that all libraries are forums for information and ideas, and that the following basic policies should guide their services. Libraries should challenge censorship in the fulfillment of their responsibility to provide information and enlightenment. Materials subject to privacy and confidentiality restrictions may include online search histories, database search records, ILS records or other circulation records, interlibrary loan records, and all other personally identifiable uses of library materials, facilities, programs or services, such as reference interviews. One cannot exercise the right to read if the possible consequences include damage to one's reputation, ostracism from the community or workplace, or criminal penalties. WebAll people, regardless of origin, age, background, or views, possess a right to privacy and confidentiality in their library use. Dealing with censorship challenges at your library or need to get prepared for them? Did any of the rights surprise you? Such systems can include online public access catalogs (OPAC), library discovery products, institutional repositories, and archival systems. Code 42.56.310. ALA Library Bill of Rights - TRL 5806 Mesa Drive, Suite 375 WebThe First Amendments right to freedom of expression encompasses intellectual freedom, which includes an individuals right to receive information on a wide range of topics from a Challenges to books are, sadly, not uncommon. Policies and commitments regarding information privacy for users of Sacred Heart University Library, American Library Association Library Bill of Rights, American Library Association Privacy Resources, https://library.sacredheart.edu/c.php?g=1090706, American Library Association Intellectual Freedom: Issues and Advocacy, Interpretations of the Library Bill of Rights. Aggregate statistics; release and use, Mississippi Code 39-3-369. Confidentiality of Records of Library or Library System, Utah Code 63G-2-302 Private records - Paragraph (1)(c), Utah Code 63G-2-202 Access to private, controlled, and protected documents, 22 VSA 172 Library record confidentiality; exemptions, Virginia Code 2.2-3705.7. for Library Service to Children (ALSC), Assn. Stat. Exemptions from disclosure-libraries - Paragraph 4, 74-120. From a personal perspective, I find thinking this way about cases like this to be helpful: Having material that argues against your own beliefs allows you to be better informed about the oppositions position, and thus better able to defend your own. WebA. The rapid pace of information collection and changes in technology means that users personally identifiable information and library-use data are at increased risk of exposure. Freedom of expression encompasses the freedoms of speech, press, religion, assembly, and association, and the corollary right to receive information. Privacy is essential to free inquiry in the library because it enables library users to select, access, and consider information and ideas without fear of embarrassment, judgment, punishment, or ostracism. The use of new technologies in libraries that rely on the collection, use, sharing, monitoring and/or tracking of user data may come into direct conflict with the Library Bill of Rights and librarians ethical responsibilities. Libraries or their governing institutions should negotiate agreements with vendors that retain library ownership of user data and permit independent auditing of vendor data collection, retention, and access policies and practices. Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group. Library security practices to safeguard personal information should be up to date and in compliance with state and national standards. WebAll people, regardless of origin, age, background, or views, possess a right to privacy and confidentiality in their library use. Business is goodbut making peace with his past is more challenging than he expected. 4Cases recognizing a right to privacy include: NAACP v. Alabama, 357 U.S. 449 (1958); Griswold v. Connecticut, 381 U.S. 479 (1965); Lamont v. Postmaster General, 381 U.S. 301 (1965); Katz v. United States, 389 U.S. 347 (1967); and Stanley v. Georgia, 394 U.S. 557 (1969). The majority of these laws declare that a library user's records and information are confidential, andnot subject to disclosure, unless certain conditions are met, such as a user's consent or the service of a court order. These policies should apply equally to all people, including, but not limited to, library users, staff, and members of the governing body. Libraries should never share users personally identifiable information with third parties or vendors that provide resources and library services, unless the library obtains explicit permission from the user or if required by law or existing contract. To that end, libraries and library workers should embrace equity, diversity, and inclusion in everything that they do. 2 Court opinions establishing a right to receive information in a public library include Board of Education v. Pico, 457 U.S. 853 (1982); Kreimer v. Bureau of Police for the Town of Morristown, 958 F.2d 1242 (3d Cir. With the widespread use of library technology that incorporates social media components, intelligent objects, and knowledge-sharing tools comes the ability of libraries to provide greater opportunities for patron engagement in those discovery systems through user-generated content. It gives us unambiguous statements of basic principles. This can again come up against traditional societal standards, particularly in light of parent-child relationships (especially when things like library fines are added to the equationfor example, a parent may wish to know what materials checked out to their childs account accrued fines, but to share this information would, technically, be in violation of Right VII). Libraries should provide materials and information presenting all points of view on current and historical issues. Violations; civil liability, North Carolina Stat. Although the Articles of theLibrary Bill of Rightsare unambiguous statements of basic principles that should govern the service of all libraries, questions do arise concerning application of these principles to specific library practices. The American Library Association opposes all attempts to restrict access to library services, materials, and facilities based on the age of library users. The new article of the Library Bill of Rights, Article VII, states: "All people, regardless of origin, age, background, or views, possess a right to privacy and confidentiality in their library use. Libraries should advocate for, educate about, and protect peoples privacy, safeguarding all library use data, including personally identifiable information. Adopted June 19, 1939, by the ALA Council; amendedJanuary 29, 2019. These documents are policies of the American Library Association, having been adopted by theALA Council. II. Imposing any financial barrier may disadvantage users, and libraries of all typespublic, school, and academicshould consider eliminating barriers that limit access to library resources and other services. The American Library Association affirms that rights of privacy are necessary for intellectual freedom and are fundamental to the ethical practice of librarianship. Adopted 2015, Library-Initiated Programs and Displays as a Resource:Library-initiated programs and displays utilize library worker expertise for community interests, collections, services, facilities, and providing access to information and information resources. Libraries should have in place procedures for working with law enforcement officers when a subpoena or other legal order for records is made. Books and other library resources should be provided for the interest, information, and enlightenment of all people of the community the library serves. Libraries which make exhibit spaces and meeting rooms available to the public they serve should make such facilities available on an equitable basis, regardless of the beliefs or affiliations of individuals or groups requesting their use. Several further documents expanding upon the Bill of Rights are available on ALAs website, including this interpretation of each Right per the organizations Intellectual Freedom This is useful for folks who perhaps are unable to leave their homes and direct a caretaker, for instance, to retrieve their library holds with their consent. Libraries should advocate for, educate about, and What It Means: Exhibit spaces and meeting rooms should be, according to Right VI, treated the same as books, movies, and other traditional library resources and materials. Libraries should provide materials and information presenting all points of view on current and historical issues. The Library Bill of Rights first adopted in 1939 and last amended in 1980 has been updated to include an article focused on the concept of ensuring privacy and confidentiality for library users. For libraries to flourish as centers for uninhibited access to information, librarians must stand behind their users' right to privacy and freedom of inquiry. Libraries implement this commitment through the adoption of and adherence to library privacy policies that are consistent with applicable federal, state, local, and where appropriate, international law. To prevent censorship and promote freedom of information is broad, however, and certainly does not end with efforts from the Sunlight Foundation. Materials should not be excluded because of the origin, background, or views of those contributing to their creation. Library Bill of Rights Amended 2019, Education and Information Literacy:Libraries and library workers foster education and lifelong learning by promoting free expression and facilitating the exchange of ideas among users. The American Library Association opposes the use of prejudicial labeling systems and affirms the rights of individuals to form their own opinions about resources they choose to read, view, listen to, or otherwise access. Privacy is the foundation upon which our libraries were built and the reason libraries are such a trusted part of every community. Libraries WebThe Library Bill of Rights addresses privacy in Article VII: All people, regardless of origin, age, background, or views, possess a right to privacy and confidentiality in their library Definitions, North Carolina Stat. 1992); and Reno v. American Civil Liberties Union, 117 S.Ct. Materials should not be proscribed or removed because of partisan or doctrinal disapproval. Next time you visit your library, do a little observing: How does your library match up to the Rights? Amended 2019, Economic Barriers to Information Access:All resources provided directly or indirectly by the library, regardless of format or method of delivery, should be readily and equitably accessible to all library users. Thus the freedom of, for and from religion, are similarly guaranteed. Intellectual Freedom and Censorship Q & A; The Freedom to Read This guide provides information about the policies of the library. The American Library Association affirms that all libraries are forums for information and ideas, and that the following basic policies should guide their services. Right II: Libraries should provide materials and information presenting all points of view on current and historical issues. Libraries and Intellectual Freedom | The First Amendment Right III is also a natural companion of Rights I and II, as library users are very likely to find, as a result of Rights I and II, materials that are personally or otherwise objectionable to them in a librarys collection. of Specialized & Cooperative Library, Core: Leadership, Infrastructure, Futures, United for Libraries (Trustees, Friends, Foundations), Young Adult Library Services Assn. The right to privacy the right to read, consider, and develop ideas and beliefs free from observation or unwanted surveillance by the government or others is the bedrock foundation for intellectual freedom. Statutes 192.502 - Paragraphs 4 and 23, Pennsylvania 24 Pa.C.S.A. Library user records confidential, Mississippi Code 39-3-367. Confidential nature of certain library records, Wisconsin Statutes 43.30. The principles of this Code are expressed in broad statements to guide ethical decision making. (YALSA), Information Technology & Telecommunication Services, Office for Diversity, Literacy, and Outreach Services (ODLOS), Office for Human Resource Development and Recruitment (HRDR), Ethnic & Multicultural Information Exchange RT (EMIERT), Graphic Novels & Comics Round Table (GNCRT), Social Responsibilities Round Table (SRRT), 225 N Michigan Ave, Suite 1300 Chicago, IL 60601 | 1.800.545.2433, State Privacy Laws Regarding Library Records, How to Respond to Law Enforcement Requests for Library Records and User Information: Suggested Guidelines, Alaska 40.25.140. Ensure that your librarys privacy practices are consistent with its promises. V. A persons right to use a library should not be denied or abridged because of origin, age, background, or views. Libraries should cooperate with all persons and groups concerned with resisting abridgment of free expression and free access to ideas. Two states, Kentucky and Hawaii, have attorney generals'opinions protecting library users' privacy. Even then, libraries should consult with legal counsel before abridging any users right to privacy. That said, the discussion above is by no means perfect or exhaustive. This kind of content could transform authoritative files, alter information architecture, and change the flow of information within the library discovery system. The right to privacy includes the right to open inquiry without having the subject of ones interest examined or scrutinized by others, in person or online. Libraries should provide materials and information presenting all points of view on current and historical issues. 70 Years of the Library Bill of Rights: Book Censorship - BOOK Emerging biometric technologies, such as facial recognition, are inconsistent with the mission of facilitating access to library resources free from any unreasonable intrusion or surveillance. And some people love to hate read, thus providing legitimate interest and, consequently, sufficient reason to collect a given title. The working group plans to incorporate these comments into its next project: revising Privacy: An Interpretation of the Library Bill of Rights. All updated intellectual freedom documents will be included in the 10th edition of the Intellectual Freedom Manual, scheduled to be published by ALA Editions in 2020. Books and other library resources should be provided for the interest, information, and enlightenment of all people of the community the library serves. V. A persons right to use a library should not be denied or abridged because of origin, age, background, or views. The idea of Right V, then, is to combat these instances case-by-case and en masse. The new article of the Library Bill of Rights, Article VII, states: "All people, regardless of origin, age, background, or views, possess a right to privacy and III. Example: This particular right met a good deal of discussion in summer 2018 when the American Library Association updated its stance around the use of meeting spaces by hate groups. See also: American Library Association Intellectual Freedom: Issues and Advocacy. 90-30: Circulation Records of Library Patrons, 74-108. Materials should not be excluded because of the origin, background, or views of those contributing to their creation. A diverse collection should contain content by and about a wide array of people and cultures to authentically reflect a variety of ideas, information, stories, and experiences. For convenience and easy reference, the documents are presented in alphabetical order. Library Bill of Rights. The policy should also recognize the confidentiality of any records or electronic data that disclose thematerials consulted, borrowed, or acquired by a library user. WebAll people, regardless or origin, age, background, or views, possess a right to privacy and confidentiality in their library use.
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