Our Commitment to Privacy
Protecting your privacy is very important to the Cleveland Heights-University Heights Public Library. This notice explains the steps we have taken and what your choices are in this effort. We make this notice easy to find on our homepage and everywhere we request information from you.
Confidentiality of Library Records
We support the laws of Ohio, which tell us that most library records are confidential and are protected. We will not make any information about you or your use of library services or materials available to anyone or any group except:
If there’s a subpoena, search warrant or a court order…
We will provide information to law enforcement personnel if presented with a court order, search warrant or subpoena. If a court order, search warrant or subpoena is issued, before complying, the library will consult legal counsel to assure the document is in proper form.
If it’s an emergency situation…
Special circumstances, such as emergencies involving public health/safety, may require an immediate decision. In such cases, the Director, Deputy Director or other designated staff member will be contacted, and legal counsel will be consulted when possible.
If a parent/guardian wants information…
The laws of Ohio require a library to provide information about a minor child to her/his parent, guardian or custodian.
Does the “Patriot Act” Change Things?
Yes, somewhat. The 2001 USA Patriot Act expands federal law enforcement’s surveillance, seizure, and investigative powers. Within a library, this could mean that a search warrant might be used to obtain information. A search warrant can be executed immediately whereas a subpoena allows us a period of time to respond to and possibly contest the court’s request.
Should library records be requested under the USA Patriot Act, the law states that in certain circumstances, library staff cannot inform the person about whom the information is requested, cannot speak to co-workers, the media, or other government officials about the inquiry. Such requests, should they occur, may only be reported to the appropriate higher authority within the library.
To What Information Do These Rules Apply?
All information you supply to the library, whether in person in one of our buildings or online, would be covered by these guidelines. This might include items such as:
- Name, address, city, state, zip code and e-mail address;
- Home and/or work phone number;
- Library card number;
- Date of birth, gender;
- Special notes and/or comments, including choice of username and password for account access;
- Preferences to receive or not receive special event notifications;
- Name of school, grade and permission to contact school;
- Records of your library account, including materials you have borrowed or requested in the past;
- Other communications between you and the library.
We Never Sell Your Information
We do not sell information collected on our Web site to outside parties. We use return e-mail addresses to answer the e-mail we receive and to confirm online program registrations. Mailing addresses are used to send program registration confirmation letters and to send literature advertising future library programs. Such addresses are not used for any other purpose and are not sold to outside parties.
Our Commitment to Your Security
We have put in place appropriate physical, electronic, and managerial procedures in an effort to safeguard and secure the information we collect to prevent unauthorized access, to maintain data security, and to ensure the correct use of information. We cannot, however, guarantee that information we collect would never be accessed by unauthorized users.
This statement of privacy does not apply to e-mail and other electronic communications that you send and receive outside of this library via the Internet. On the Internet, there is no reasonable expectation of privacy.
Outside websites
The library’s website includes links to outside sites. Those sites, and any other you may choose to go to, may have different privacy statements and the library’s Privacy Statement does not apply. The Cleveland Heights-University Heights Public Library is not responsible for protecting personal information gathered by outside Web sites.
Our Commitment to Children’s Privacy Protecting the privacy of the very young is especially important to us. We urge that parents supervise their children’s use of the Internet, especially when a child wishes to give out personal information online. Parents may wish to refer to Child Safety on the Information Highway, which is produced by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, as a further guide.
Let Us Answer Your Questions
Should you have other questions or concerns about these privacy policies, please contact the Director at (216) 932-3600, ext. 1240 or send an e-mail to nlevin@heightslibrary.org.
(Privacy Statement last modified May, 2012)