Riverside Regional Library

Confidentiality of Library Records Policy

The Board of Trustees of  Riverside Regional Library endorses the idea that libraries are impartial resources providing information on all points of view, available to all persons regardless of age, race, religion, national origin, social or political views, economic status, or any other characteristic.  The role of libraries as such resources must not be compromised by an erosion of the privacy rights of library patrons.  Therefore, the Board of Trustees specifically establishes that: 

1.   All records, formal and informal, in the Riverside Regional Library relating to patron registration and the subsequent circulation by patrons of materials provided by the library, as well as other library records, are considered to be confidential in nature.

2.   Any library staff member receiving such a request to examine or obtain information relating to circulation or other records identifying the names of library users, will immediately refer the person making the request to the library director, who shall explain the confidentiality policy.

3.  In order to prevent an unreasonable invasion of personal privacy, the contents of registration and circulation records shall not be made available to anyone except under written order of the library director, such order having been issued pursuant to a proper legal process, order, or subpoena under the law.

4.   The director, upon receipt of such process, order, or subpoena, shall consult with the appropriate legal officer assigned to the institution to determine if such process, order, or subpoena is in good form if there is a showing of good cause for its issuance.

5.   In the event the legal process fails to sufficiently identify or name in specific terms or specifications the records on file in respect to an identified library patron, the request is considered to be defective and not binding upon the library and its personnel except under further due process of law. 

6.   Any problems or conditions relating to the privacy of a patron through the records of Riverside Regional Library which are not provided in the policy statement shall be referred to the library director, who, after study and consultation with the library board and/or legal counsel, shall issue a written decision as to whether to heed the request for information.  Riverside Regional Public Library