Policy on Confidentiality of
Library Records
The Council of the American Library Association strongly recommends
that the responsible officers of each library, cooperative system, and
consortium in the United States:
- Formally adopt a policy which specifically recognizes its circulation
records and other records identifying the name of library users to
be confidential in nature.*
- Advise all librarians and library employees that such records shall
not be made available to any agency of state, federal, or local government
except pursuant to such process, order, or subpoena as may be authorized
under the authority of, and pursuant to, federal, state, or local
law relating to civil, criminal, or administrative discovery procedures
or legislative investigative power.
- Resist the issuance or enforcement of any such process, order, or
subpoena until such time as a proper showing of good cause has been
made in a court of competent jurisdiction.**
*Note: See also ALA Code of Ethics, point III: "We protect each
library user's right to privacy and confidentiality with respect to
information sought or received, and materials consulted, borrowed, acquired
or transmitted.''
**Note: Point 3, above, means that upon receipt of such process, order,
or subpoena, the library's officers will consult with their legal counsel
to determine if such process, order, or subpoena is in proper form and
if there is a showing of good cause for its issuance; if the process,
order, or subpoena is not in proper form or if good cause has not been
shown, they will insist that such defects be cured.
Adopted January 20, 1971; revised July 4, 1975, July 2, 1986, by the
ALA Council.
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