MAHONING COUNTY Library vows to protect privacy

The FBI won't get much patron information here.
By PETER H. MILLIKEN
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
BOARDMAN -- Amid civil liberty concerns generated by the USA Patriot Act, the Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County is staunchly defending the privacy of its patrons.
"Privacy, philosophically, is important to all of us that run the library," director Carlton A. Sears told the library board Thursday.
The act allows the FBI to examine records of people suspected of being linked to terrorism, possibly including a person's book purchasing or borrowing, or computer-use history.
The law also prohibits library workers from informing a patron if federal agents have obtained records.
Safeguards
Sears said the library system has several safeguards to protect patron privacy.
If law enforcement agents were to ask for patron records, Sears said, he would call the library's lawyer, Ralph Beard, for advice.
If the library were to provide the information, the only records the law enforcement agency could get would be those of items the borrower had not yet returned.
That's because records concerning borrowed items are removed from the library's computer system as soon as they are returned; computer signup sheets are shredded daily and electronic records of library computer use are expunged immediately after the user signs off, Sears said.
No law enforcement agency has requested library-use information, Sears said.
The library's confidentiality of records policy, based on state law, says patron records are confidential, except in response to a search warrant, subpoena or court order. The policy also says such information may be released to a law enforcement agent "investigating a matter involving public safety and exigent circumstances."
Although some library systems have posted signs warning patrons about the Patriot Act and explaining the library system's privacy safeguards, Sears said there are no such signs in libraries here because some librarians fear the signs might make patrons uncomfortable.
Overdue fines
Sears announced overdue fines would rise to 10 cents a day for books and 50 cents a day for videos up to a maximum of $5 per item, effective July 7.
Current fines for both are 5 cents a day, increasing to 10 cents a day after 21 days, with a maximum of $5 per item.
Overdue fines for DVDs and CDs will remain at 50 cents per day per item up to a $5 maximum per item.