Reflections

Reflections

When I chose this topic, it was because this is one near and dear to me. Patron privacy and confidentiality are so important to librarianship that it is specifically mentioned in the ALA’s Code of Ethics: 3. We protect each library user’s right to privacy and confidentiality with respect to information sought or received and resources consulted, borrowed, acquired or transmitted. I have dedicated a large section of this project to issues of mass surveillance in libraries. Privacy rights and…

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Bibliography of Additional Sources

Bibliography of Additional Sources

The following are some additional sources found while researching this topic. Abioye, A. (2010). Confidentiality and Protection of Official Records in the Freedom of Information Era: Nigeria’s Situation. African Journal Of Library, Archives & Information Science, 20(1), 29-39. A look at another country’s issues of confidentiality and libraries. Adams, H. R. (2002). Privacy & Confidentiality. American Libraries, 33(10), 44. Focused on youths and their privacy needs. Bowers, S. L. (2006). Privacy and Library Records. Journal Of Academic Librarianship, 32(4), 377-383….

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More Resources

More Resources

Here’s a collection of more resources on the subject of surveillance in libraries and privacy rights related to it. ALA. FBI in your library. Retrieved from: http://www.ala.org/Template.cfm?ContentID=21662&Section=ifissues&Template=/ContentManagement/ContentDisplay.cfm# ALA. First Amendment of the Bill of Rights to the United States Constitution. Retrieved from: www.ala.org/Template.cfm?Section=firstamendment&Template=/ContentManagement/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=163654 Data Privacy Project. Curriculum. Retrieved from: https://dataprivacyproject.org/curriculum/ Data Privacy Project. FAQ: Privacy, Security, and Data Protection at Libraries. Retrieved from: https://dataprivacyproject.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Handout-FAQ-Privacy-Security-and-Data-Protection-at-Brooklyn-Public-Library.pdf Data Privacy Project. Resources on Laws and Policies. Retrieved from: https://dataprivacyproject.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Handout-National-and-Local-Policies-and-Regulations.pdf EPIC. Big data and the future…

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Infographic Sources

Infographic Sources

There are a number of excellent infographic sources available on the issues of mass surveillance and privacy concerns. Though not specific to libraries, the two below demonstrate the basis of many surveillance and privacy-related concerns in libraries. –ACLU. Surveillance Under the Patriot Act. Retrieved from: https://www.aclu.org/issues/national-security/privacy-and-surveillance/surveillance-under-patriot-act –Secure Swiss Data. (August 2017). Retrieved from: https://secureswissdata.com/what-is-mass-surveillance-infographic As a supplement to the above, here’s some good tools on making your own infographics: Stephen’s Lighthouse. (2012). Over 100 Incredible Infographic Tools and Resources (Categorized). Retrieved…

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Workshop/Seminar Review

Workshop/Seminar Review

There were three seminars or workshops at the TLA 2018 conference in Dallas that I had scheduled to attend for the purpose of this assignment. Digital Privacy – Tuesday April 3, 9am-12am (Ticketed event) Booktalking Challenging Books – Tuesday April 3, 4:00pm-5:00pm Net Neutrality is Over: What Do We Do Now? – Friday April 6, 9:15am-10:15am My intention in attending these seminars, despite not being specifically about my chosen topic, was to investigate a broader look at how issues of…

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Video Sources of Interest

Video Sources of Interest

Cambridge Library Conference. (2018). PREVENTing Freedom of Inquiry? Surveillance, privacy and the ethics of librarianship. Retrieved from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kfq0TjiI_Y0 This video from the Cambridge Library Conference references the UK’s 2015 Counter-Terrorism and Security Act, which has been criticized as being in conflict with academic freedom. It references Prevent, an initiative for surveiling citizens, which has resulted in situations such as students who have been reported for reading and borrowing books from libraries on certain subjects. This has created an atmosphere of self-censorship and…

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Funding Sources

Funding Sources

Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program https://www.imls.gov/grants/available/laura-bush-21st-century-librarian-program “The Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program (LB21) supports developing a diverse workforce of librarians to better meet the changing learning and information needs of the American public by: enhancing the training and professional development of librarians, developing faculty and library leaders, and recruiting and educating the next generation of librarians.” (From the website). Planning Grants: Up to $50,000 Project Grants: Up to $1,000,000 Research Grants: Up to $500,000 Deadline: February 1, 2018…

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Research Article Analysis

Research Article Analysis

This article is focused on privacy and surveillance issues in regards to academic freedom, specifically concerning the UK’s National Identity Card Scheme (NICS). Though the study is exploring these issues in the UK that are not entirely applicable in the US, it provides some interesting information from the student perspective of these issues. The NICS was implemented in 2006 and has been the subject of controversy, with opponents concerned about risk to privacy and the NICS being expanded into other…

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Webpage Sources

Webpage Sources

American Library Association – Privacy http://www.ala.org/advocacy/privacy The ALA is the major organization for libraries and librarians. The Privacy page from ALA is extensive and includes critical resources such as the Privacy Tool Kit; section on Encryption and Patron Privacy; and the very relevant Privacy, Surveillance & Cybersecurity Legislation segment. Illinois Institute of Technology – Center for the Study of Ethics In the Professions http://ethics.iit.edu/ IIT’s Center for the Study of Ethics In the Professions is an extensive resource for ethics-related issues…

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Interview

Interview

I interviewed an academic systems librarian. The primary interview was done via email, but we also discussed in person some of the other topics that were chosen by others in the class and some of the situations in previous discussion board assignments. The in person part was more of an informal conversation than the rest of the interview and went on for quite a while, so I don’t have detailed notes for those, nor did I include them in my interview script…

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