Protecting Patron Privacy: Library Ethics and Why Not All Data Is Equal

Sponsored by Rowman & Littlefield

Recorded on 09/11/2017
Posted in The Authority File

Episode 7

In this episode, we discuss the ethical considerations libraries must face when they begin to formalize their missions around patron privacy. While patrons are encouraged to use resources as they see fit, it’s actually the library’s responsibility to help them understand and manage their privacy implications. Newman and Tijerina, editors of Rowman & Littlefield’s Protecting Patron Privacy: A LITA Guide, also talk about how libraries should manage expectations around “in-house” technology and third-party platforms (cloud computing, digital content vendor services, and social media, for example).

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About the guests:

Bobbi Newman is a librarian, writer, and an international speaker. She is a Community Engagement and Outreach Specialist at the National Network of Libraries of Medicine where she helps public libraries meet the health information needs of their communities. She is the author of the award-winning blog, Librarian by Day and in 2011 was named a Mover and Shaker by Library Journal. She has served on national initiatives from ALA, LITA, OITP, Pew, and NISO.

Bonnie Tijerina is a Researcher at Data & Society Research Institute a research institute focused on social, cultural, and ethical issues arising from data-centric technological development. There she focuses on library support in big data research and online privacy education in libraries. Bonnie has worked in libraries for over 10 years, most recently as the Head of Electronic Resources and Serials at Harvard University. Bonnie has written and presented on new roles for librarians and the ways libraries can support their communities in the digital world. She is founder and President of ER&L (Electronic Resources & Libraries) conference and organization. She is co-founder of Designing for Digital, a meeting of UX and design professionals from tech, media, academia, and libraries. She tweets @bonlth.

About the Music:
The intro and outro music in Authority File is “Grapes,” mixed by I dunno. The transition music is “Peace ( There’s A better Way ),” mixed by Loveshadow. The music is available on ccMixter, and is used under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license (cc-by 4.0).

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