Privacy is a very important aspect of intellectual freedom. ALA states the right to privacy is “the right to read, consider, and develop ideas and beliefs free from observation or unwanted surveillance by the government or others.” (ALA 2021). This means that library users have the right to access information and ideas without judgment or punishment and a lack of privacy can therefore have a negative effect on library users; meaning, lack of privacy might lead people to not exercise their right to read, which means their free access to ideas will be limited. The right to privacy goes hand-in-hand with intellectual freedom because, just as we all have the right to access information, everyone has the right to privacy and to access information without surveillance.
Limit the degree to which personally identifiable information is monitored, collected, disclosed, and distributed.
Avoid creating unnecessary records. Only record a user's personally identifiable information when necessary for the efficient operation of the library.
Avoid retaining records that are not needed for efficient operation of the library. Assure that all kinds and types of records are covered by the policy, including data-related logs, digital records, vendor-collected data, and system backups.
Avoid library practices and procedures that place information on public view (e.g., using postcards for overdue notices or requested materials; using patron names to identify self-pickup holds; placing staff terminals so the screens can be read by the public; using sign-in sheets to use computers or other devices; and providing titles of reserve requests or interlibrary loans over the telephone to users' family members or answering machines).
Libraries protect privacy. I Love Libraries. (2022, March 26). https://ilovelibraries.org/protect-privacy/