Amherst Town Library is committed to protecting the privacy and confidentiality of all library patrons, regardless of age. This commitment to privacy and confidentiality is grounded in the highest professional standards and practices of librarianship and the law. In accordance with the American Library Association's Code of Ethics and Library Bill of Rights, the Library recognizes that privacy is essential to intellectual freedom and upholds every individual’s right to use library resources without scrutiny or unnecessary disclosure.
Information We Collect
The Amherst Town Library collects personally identifiable information only when necessary for the proper operation and fulfillment of its mission. The Library avoids creating or retaining records that are not required for library business purposes.
Types of data the Library may gather and retain about library patrons includes:
Basic identity and contact details required to register for a library card (e.g. name, address, telephone number, email address)
Records of material checked out, charges owed, payments made
Interlibrary loan or materials purchase requests
Reader’s advisory or reference service inquiries
Museum pass and meeting room reservations
Subscriptions to library mailing lists
Registrations for library programs
Logs of public computer sessions
The Library may enter into agreements with third parties to provide online services, digital collections, streaming media content and website enhancement. If and when you choose to use such services, the Library may share your information with these third parties, but only as necessary to verify users as Amherst Town Library cardholders.
The Library makes reasonable efforts to ensure that its contracts, licenses, and cloud-based or third-party IT services reflect our policies and legal obligations concerning user privacy and confidentiality. These agreements address appropriate restrictions on the use, aggregation, dissemination, and sale of data. For more information on these services and the specific types of data they may gather or disclose, please refer to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policies for the services you use.
In addition to the information identified above, other information about your use of the Library may be contained in computer and network logs necessary for the proper functioning and which follow standard industry practices. This information is purged as soon as possible and is not disclosed unless required by law.
The Library employs cameras to enhance the safety of staff and patrons. Images are only accessible to view by library staff and are not stored. As a public space, the Library cannot control whether patrons are seen or recognized by others, what library activities may be observed by others, or whether individuals record or photograph in public areas, including First Amendment audits.
Participation at library events constitutes implied consent to be photographed and to have photos shared via news outlets, the Library’s website, or social media accounts. User-submitted photos, images, and videos may also be used by the Library for promotional purposes.
Access to Personal Information
Access to patron data is limited to the following:
Library staff to perform job duties
Patrons upon presentation of their library card or proof of identity
Authorized users
Any person in possession of a physical or digital library card is assumed to be the cardholder or to have the cardholder’s permission to access the account.
Named individuals: Cardholders may grant specific individuals access to their library record. The named individuals will be added to the cardholder’s record and remain authorized until the cardholder requests they be removed.
Linked accounts: Cardholders may set up linked accounts via the catalog or mobile app to permit others to access their account at their discretion.
Parents or legal guardians of a child under age 18 may obtain limited information from a child’s library record by completing the “Request for Current Borrowing Record of a Minor.” Requests for minors’ cards issued at another library will be referred to that library.
Law enforcement
Requests must be made to the Library Director or her designee.
The Director will consult with the Chairman of the Board of Trustees (or designee) and the legal counsel of the Town of Amherst.
Requests must be accompanied by a court order from a court of competent jurisdiction, demonstrating good cause.
Under the USA PATRIOT Act (enacted Oct. 26, 2001), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and other law enforcement agencies may seek court orders for library records for investigations relevant to national security or terrorism. The Library or librarians served with these orders may not disclose the existence of the orders or the fact that records were provided. Patrons cannot be notified if their records are given to law enforcement or if they are the subject of an FBI investigation.