Help tackling confidentiality and privacy issues
CILIP has launched its guidelines on ‘User Privacy in Libraries’. The guidelines have been developed to help staff working in library and information services tackle complex confidentiality and privacy issues. Such issues include data sharing, the internet, children, CCTV and what rights police and other security agencies have to demand access to the personal information of users.
The guidelines were developed following concern that the number of interventions by police and security services seeking confidential information about library users was increasing. CILIP ran a surveillance survey, which indicated this was not the case, but it did reveal a number of places lacking a policy covering this area and a need for advice and guidance.
Margaret Watson, who led the work on privacy and is chair of CILIP’s Ethics Panel, commented on the guidelines:
“Most institutions will have policies relating to the confidentiality of personal information but that doesn’t absolve the practitioner from individual responsibility. Under CILIP’s Ethical Principles each practitioner has to show “respect for confidentiality and privacy in dealing with information users”. The guidelines will help them in this and, where there are worries about existing practice members must raise the issue in an appropriate manner”.
As well as a general section on privacy issues the guidelines include sections on ‘Keeping Users Informed’, ‘How to Handle Requests for Data’, and the ‘Law and Privacy of Users’. Examples of best practice are included and there are extensive links to key documents allowing users to drill down to the detail of individual issues.
“The Ethics Panel will keep the guidelines under review,” continued Margaret Watson, “and they will also provide confidential advice to members facing problems in this area. It is vital that we have the support in place to enable our members to manage personal information responsibly and ensure the confidence of the public in the confidentiality and security of the personal information they entrust us with”.
The guidelines can be downloaded from www.cilip.org.uk/privacyguidelines
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Press contacts:
Guy Daines, Director of Policy and Advocacy, CILIP
Tel: 020 7255 0632
Email: guy.daines@cilip.org.uk
Mark Taylor, Head of Corporate Marketing and Media Relations, CILIP
Tel: 020 7255 0650
Email: mark.taylor@cilip.org.uk