Comments on: Guest Column: Rockford Public Library addresses weeding, collection

By: Collin

Collin — Tue, 01 May 2012 04:28:00 +0000

Let’s observe some logic: If something doesn’t exist, it can hardly be considered a “record” now can it? The haters are grasping at straws here.

By: Susan

Susan — Sat, 28 Apr 2012 13:44:46 +0000

Perhaps this will help.
(75 ILCS 70/1) (from Ch. 81, par. 1201)
Sec. 1. (a) The registration and circulation records of a library are confidential information. No person shall publish or make any information contained in such records available to the public unless:
(1) required to do so under a court order; or
(2) the information is requested by a sworn law
Also, you are making assumptions about his library use. Not finding a record does not negate the confidentiality.

By: Susan

Susan — Sat, 28 Apr 2012 13:32:15 +0000

To be clear. It is illegal to look at or for a person record unless they are trying to take out a book. It was an unnecessary look at the individuals status. Do not try to make this sound like it was an apporpriate activity. The only reason the attempt was made was to find out personal information about the individual not for his benefit. I hope that is clear.

By: RPL

RPL — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 17:06:55 +0000

To be clear, it is not illegal to determine whether or not someone is a library cardholder. The particular individual you reference had opinions about RPL collection and services, yet was not a taxpayer in the City of Rockford. However, given RPL’s reciprocal arrangements with other area libraries, the individual might still be a user of the library (thus probably more educated about our programs and services). As it turned out, he was not a reciprocal borrower either, and therefore very unlikely to have firsthand knowledge of RPL from a user perspective. Under the freedom to read, we would not look at what the individual is reading or checking out (nor do we save this information), but whether he is a cardholder is not protected information.

By: Susan

Susan — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 12:41:57 +0000

Emily:
Why was library staff going through library records to find information about someone who wrote a letter. That is what is disturbing. Have they been punished for their illegal behavior?