Each user’s right to privacy and unrestricted access is reaffirmed by ALA’s Library Bill of Rights and Freedom to Read, which are endorsed by the Department and the Library Board.

Confidentiality of Borrowing Records

All borrowers’ records are confidential. Their inspection, use, or disclosure is prohibited (Annotated Code of Maryland ED§ 23-107), and are excluded from disclosure under the Maryland Freedom of Information Act (ST GOV §10-616e) unless otherwise provided by law. The County requires that law enforcement requests for any library record be in the form of an order issued by a court of competent jurisdiction that shows good cause and is in proper form.

Library staff will provide information about a borrower’s record only to the card holder. To safeguard privacy, customers who request information by telephone will be asked to provide their card number and name. Other information such as birth date, address, and home or business phone number may also be requested.

Staff can provide parents who are checking out with their child’s library card:

• a list of the titles just borrowed
• information on the number and types of materials charged
• information about fines on their child’s account

Customers may manage accounts for themselves using the online YOUR ACCOUNT features, if they have obtained a PIN number.

In keeping with these confidentiality provisions, the Library does not sell, lease, or otherwise distribute or disclose your name, postal address, e-mail address, phone number, or other personal information for non-library purposes to outside parties unless required by law. By protecting the confidentiality of each borrower’s record, staff upholds the law and assures each borrower that he or she may borrow materials based on his or her needs.

USA PATRIOT Act

In accordance with Maryland law the library makes every effort to guard your privacy in the use of Library materials and computers. However, under some provisions of the USA Patriot Act Improvement and Reauthorization Act 2005 federal officials may require a library to provide information about your use of library resources.

More information about the U.S. Patriot Act (PL 107-56) and the USA Patriot Act Improvement and Reauthorization Act 2005 (Public Law 109-177) is available at the following locations:

Congressional Research Service

USA PATRIOT Improvement and Reauthorization Act 2005: a brief look.
http://fpc.state.gov/documents/organization/58237.pdf

USA PATRIOT Improvement and Reauthorization Act of 2005 (H.R. 3199): A Legal Analysis of the Conference Bill
http://www.opencrs.com/rpts/RL33239_20060117.pdf

Libraries and the USA Patriot Act (Feb. 3, 2006)
http://www.opencrs.com/rpts/RS21441_20060203.pdf

American Library Association

USA PATRIOT Act Reauthorization Analysis
http://www.ala.org/ala/washoff/WOissues/civilliberties/theusapatriotact/usapatriotact.htm#reauth

House Judiciary Committee

New Civil Liberty Safeguards in 2006 law
http://judiciary.house.gov/Printshop.aspx?Section=232

Department of Justice

Information on the PATRIOT ACT begins at http://www.lifeandliberty.gov

Using the Internet in the Library

The library cannot be responsible for someone being seen or recognized in the library or for passersby seeing what materials or websites are being used in the library. Upon request, the library does offer privacy screens which limit the ability of people passing by to see what is displayed on workstation screens. When customers logout at the end of their Internet sessions, the cache of sites visited is cleared automatically. Customers may also clear the cache themselves prior to logout. The PHAROS automated Internet sign-up system purges customer session sign-up records within 36 hours. The library discards any paper Internet sign-up sheets at the close of business each day.

Privacy and Security on the Internet

The Library’s website includes selected links to outside sites. These sites may have different privacy policies than the Library. The Library cannot be responsible for your privacy when you disclose information to outside websites. Users are cautioned that the Internet is not always secure and that the privacy of credit card transactions and other communications is not assured.

For more information on Internet privacy and safety and on evaluating Internet sites, please see these related documents:

Montgomery County Public Library's Web Access Policies and Procedures

Child Safety on the Internet - Resources to help parents, caregivers, and children enjoy safe use of the Internet

Link to Evaluating Internet Sites

Electronic Frontier Foundation Top 12 Ways to Protect Your Online Privacy

Cookies

Cookies are small text files placed on user computers by a website to enable customization of individual visits. Some library electronic services, such as sessions on the library catalog using the personalized log-in option and in remote databases, place temporary cookies for current sessions. These cookies do not capture personal information or compromise visitor privacy. You may delete them from your home browser when the sessions are ended. Visitors can refuse the cookie by using instructions provided in Internet browsers. This refusal may result in the inability to access many library services from computers outside the library.

Wireless Internet Access

The Library cannot assure the safety of your data when you use either our wired or wireless Internet access. Connecting your computer to the Internet via our wireless network exposes it to the same viruses and other security risks as any Internet connection does. You are responsible for ensuring that your computer is protected against such threats. You use the Library's wireless network at your own risk. Virus and security protection is the customer’s responsibility.

For more information on the library’s wireless access, please review Wireless Internet Access.

Information on public wireless networks and security is available at the following locations:

Complete Guide to Wi-Fi Security (Tech Wireless Center USA Today)

Use public wireless networks more safely (Microsoft)

Video Surveillance Cameras

Some branches have surveillance cameras for the protection of customers and staff. Customers should be aware that their actions in these buildings may be monitored by the cameras. The tapes in the cameras are re-used each week.