Biometrics is the biological identification of a person. As most library applications are involved with computers, in the library context this usually means using fingerprint readers as a secure method for identification.
Historically school libraries have led the way in this field, but further education colleges and some health libraries are starting to use the technology as well. The main advantage for libraries is 'no tickets' – users always have their finger with them and it means everyone can use Library anytime.
Privacy concerns
Some parents of school children have been concerned about privacy rights and confidentiality rights of library users. Manufacturers have stressed that no fingerprint is stored when the pupil places his/her finger on the manufacturer's device. The fingerprint is immediately converted into a biometric, i.e., a numerical value. This numerical value is then sent to the school's computer system. It is not possible to re-create a child's fingerprint from the biometric.
The biometric is simply a means of issuing and discharging material to an individual and cannot hold any information of this type.
The CILIP Ethical Principles and Code of Professional Practice provides a framework to help library and information professionals, who are members of CILIP, to manage the responsibilities and sensitivities which figure prominently in their work. There is a statement of Ethical Principles and a more extended Code of Professional Practice, which applies these principles to the different groups and professionals to which our members must adhere. The Code also makes some additional points with regard to professional behaviour. The Principles and Code assume that respect for duly enacted law is a fundamental responsibility for everybody.
School librarians’ responsibility
The decision to use systems that create personal biometric data in schools is the decision of the senior management of each school, not the school librarian. It is therefore the responsibility of the school to ensure that appropriate permissions have been obtained.
CILIP has a number of groups that are experts in their particular library and information sector. The Schools Library Group is the special interest group in this area. Members of CILIP who work in the schools sector seek advice and support from their peers in this Group. School librarians can register on the School Librarians Network to share information on this subject at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/sln/
Some schools use an 'opt out' rather than an opt in policy - all parents/guardians get a letter explaining the system with an opt-out slip to send in if they did not want their child to be fingerprinted.
Recent Becta guidance on biometric technologies in schools gives further details on the legal position and the Data Protection Act 1998.
Two advantages Becta mentions are that:
- Pupils do not need to remember to bring anything with them to use the library and there is nothing that can be lost, stolen or exchanged
- There is reduced opportunity for bullying and theft; pupils must be physically present to borrow items and cannot use another pupil’s identity to do so.