Data Privacy Policy

• Policies

Policy #1006:
Adopted by the Library Board 7 January 1998

The Minnesota Government Data Practices Act, Minnesota Statutes §13.40, governs the dissemination of data on individuals by the State and its political subdivisions. Records required in controlling the use of materials either on or off the premises of the Library are for the sole purpose of protecting public property, and such records are not to be used directly or indirectly to identify the kinds of materials used by individual library patrons, except insofar as the Library may be helpful to such patron in finding the information requested.

In accordance with the Statute, private information may be released to parents of minor children. Household members may pick up materials on hold. Under no other circumstances shall the staff of the Library ever answer to a third party about what a patron of the Library is reading or requesting from the Library's collections. Such information is privileged and if divulged would be an invasion of the patron's privacy.

Information about Library Board patron records or their interests is not released to anyone including other government agencies, whether local, state or federal, without an order from a court of competent jurisdiction. Any costs incurred by the Library in any search through patron records, even under a court order, shall be chargeable to the agency demanding such search.

The Library Director is the designated responsible authority for the purposes of the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act.

Minnesota Government Data Practices 13.40