Hermitage Branch Library Violates Patrons' Privacy Rights
(Tell Me I'm Making A Big Deal Out Of Nothing...)
As we've discussed, I'm a library junkie.
Last night we made our trip to little mecca to pick up our stack of holds. Something was different. I started to ask for them politely at the desk and then saw the three front shelves in the lobby no longer held new releases.
They held the requested books. Which library patrons can now pick up themselves. All you have to do is look for your name on a slip of paper, wrapped around your book, DVD or CD.
The problem is, as I see it, is that so can anyone else. Any person who enters the library can browse the stack of holds, see your full name and what you've requested.
This brings up two issues.
1. Privacy. Maybe I don't want people to know that I've requested a book on making my own beer. (Relax, Mom. I haven't really. It's just an example.)
2. Theft of popular holds. You know the new Stephen King book still has hundreds of people waiting for it. What's to stop some unscrupulous bastard from seeing a fresh copy, taking off the name slip and appropriating the book for himself? The "hold" person not only loses that copy, they lose their place in line for a new copy because the "hold" under their name was filled when the library received the book--not when the patron actually checks out the book.
Yeah, it's probably nothing. But I think if we're gonna be upset about the Patriot Act giving the Feds access to library records, maybe I can be a little upset about the library staff giving any dork on the street access to my library holds.
posted by Kat Coble @ 2:12 AM
10 comments
10 Comments:
That's really interesting. I've been a library worker for many, many years, and I've NEVER heard it done that way for patron holds. The only explanation I could possibly have is: maybe they are short on man hours? Other than that, I have no clue. Seems this system would create WAY more problems than it would solve.
Kat,
No, I think you are not overreacting at all. This type of system really discourages people from placing holds on sensitive, but needed, information. It also makes it possible for people further down the list to harass the person it's on hold for right now. The American Library Association's code of ethics states, "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" as it's 3rd tennant, which I think is not being honored in this case. You should relay your concerns to the library director if possible.
Yeah, I am with you that my first thought was--well, how do they keep people from saying they're you and taking the book? Seems like a good way to really hack off the library patrons to me. Sorry, but that system doesn't work.
They've started doing this at Edmondson Pike too. It's part of the whole new self check-out system. I went in the other day and people's head's were exploding because the terminals were now turned around towards the patrons. I guess it's good that they are saving taxpayer dollars, and I know I can check myself out faster than some of the people who work there.
Self-checkout doesn't bug me. It's efficient, if you can work the scanner.
But something about putting the most wanted books on the honor system and wrapping patron's full names around their books ("Look who wants to read Better Sex in 28 Days! Our next door neighbor! No wonder they look grumpy every morning....") really hacks me off.
I was just at the Madison branch yesterday. They've been doing the same thing for about 3 weeks.
I'm the guy you have to worry about though. I grew up around there (Madison) and started scanning the names to see if I recognized anyone. I'm not sure what I would've done...is library book hold stalking a crime?
I will also look inside your medicine cabinet.
Knithead:
Better late than never, especially with your expertise in this area.
Hmmm. I wonder if the NPL does a pre-checkout hold reserve with the books? I've had my copy of a hold accidentally given to another patron (one time), so I just assumed the process was still not volume/patron linked until the patron picked up the book.
In other words, they have 50 copies of Cell, and you are on hold for it. The library gets a copy and shelves it under your name for pickup, but until you scan your card for the item that specific volume isn't (I don't think) assigned to your name.
Contrary to others' beliefs, librarians are very nice reasonable people.
Some of my best friends are librarians/library workers. ;-p
Seriously, I did discuss this with one of the library workers on Thursday. She was as upset about the privacy issue as I was but said the NPL official policy is "if the patrons don't like it, they can use a library that doesn't handle it's holds this way."
She's the one who explained to me that the library couldn't staff up adequately to match the influx of patrons. I'm very eager to point out that an influx of patrons also means an influx of property tax money, so there should be funds to employ people. But if you use that money for a baseball stadium, I guess not.
The only reason I haven't yet spoken to the Director of Circulation for the DPL is that they all were not answering their phones yesterday. Branches are closed on Friday (again, to save money) so I'll be taking it up the foodchain on Monday.
Southeast branch too. I had the same thought when i walked in. Not so much about my name being on the book (tho now that you mention it maybe i should worry, as i am the only person with my last name in Nashville) but others running off with my books. The paper slip with the name on it pretty well covered the spine of the books i picked up but may not for everyone. and people can just come pick up the books to look.
Interesting to read this in the light of having dropped by the world-famous Smyrna library on Saturday. I usually never have a bad word to say about my favorite public library, but it was not the most efficient on Saturday.
Apparently lots of people have left the working at the library career and there was a bug going around and people had called in sick. so they had to get a temp worker who as long as it only involved checking out books or scanning things, was all good. Anything outside of that and the guy who is usually there had to help out...
I hope he didn't think I was being obnoxious, but they said I had a hold but couldn't find it and I made them look for it. Sure, I was kind and wandered away while it got less busy but I did come back...namely casue I wasn't sure I'd have time to get back by in the three days that Smyrna holds things on reserve. Plus I was already there...
The good news is--eventually it was found and I got it and I went along my merry way.
The bad news was--the cute girl who works at the reference desk was out so my wandering aimlessly didn't have us cross paths and our mutual love of books bring us together....
The Green Hills branch re-located the holds shelf too, so this new way of handling holds seems widespread throughout the NPL system. I sent a letter of complaint, returned what books I had out, and cancelled all my holds. I can deal with the self-check if I have to, although I prefer not to, but I draw a line on the privacy issue. It's no one's business what I am reading--period. Just as bad, my name, address, and telephone number appeared on the back of one of my slips. Maybe NPL is trying out a new way of forming book clubs. Other patrons can see what you are reading and talk to you about it by visiting you at home or by calling you on the telephone.
Seriously, I am boycotting the NPL until the privacy issue is fixed.
Bryan Campbell
classz696@yahoo.com
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