Skip to Main Content

Student Worker Guide

Training and Orientation Guide for HU Library Student Workers

Confidentiality and Patron Privacy

Confidentiality in libraries is a serious issue. In accordance with U.S. Privacy Act of 1974 and the Policy on the Confidentiality of Library Records adopted by the Council of the American Library Association, January 20, 1971, all library records relating to an individual patron and their use of the library and its resources are confidential. These records may be consulted and used by library staff in the course of carrying out library operations, but will not be disclosed to others except upon the request or consent of the library user, or pursuant to subpoena, court order or otherwise as required by law. Such disclosure may be made only by the University Librarian in consultation with appropriate university authorities. Individuals may visit and use the Library's web site at any time without telling the Library who they are or revealing any information about themselves.

All library questions are confidential! Never discuss a student's or staff member's request for help with anyone other than with a library staff member.


Requests for a patron's personal information by a third party should never be honored. Personal information includes, but is not limited to:

  • Personal information (addresses, phone numbers, etc.) of people in library databases.
  • Fines and fees of a student requested by a parent without the student's permission..
  • The name of a person who has checked out a particular item.
  • Names of past users of an item or book.
  • The nature of a patron's request for help or database search.

Never check out materials for a person to another person's account!

For more information see these documents from the American Library Association:

FERPA

The Family Educational Rights & Privacy Act (FERPA) is a federal law that protects the privacy of student education records. FERPA applies to all educational agencies and institutions that receive funding under any program administered by the Department of Education. As a recipient of federal funding, Harrisburg University is obligated to comply with FERPA. HU limits the release of personally identifiable information, other than directory information, without explicit student consent.