Circulation Records and Patron Information
The Beneficial-Hodson Library subscribes to the Code of Ethics of the American Library
Association, which states, “We protect each library user's right to privacy and
confidentiality with respect to information sought or received and resources
consulted, borrowed, acquired or transmitted.” Further, the State of Maryland protects the confidentiality of library
records, as written in the Annotated Code
of Maryland, Title 23, Subtitle I.
The borrowing records of the patrons of the
Beneficial-Hodson Library are confidential. The Library staff will provide
information about a borrower’s record only to the card holder. To safeguard
privacy, library patrons who request information relating to their patron
records by telephone or e-mail will be asked to provide their name and library
barcode number, or other proof of Hood College affiliation and/or identification.
It is the Library’s policy not to share information about which books an individual may have out at
any given time. If a book needs to be recalled, the library staff will handle the transaction with the individual who
has the book in his or her possession. That responsibility cannot be handed over to the individual who needs
the book.
The circulation module of the Library’s Voyager integrated library system does not maintain permanent records of what individuals borrow. When a circulating book is returned and checked in through the system, the connection between the borrower’s name and
the book title is severed.
The Library will respond to a request for borrower information by law enforcement only if the request is accompanied by a properly
executed court order that demonstrates good cause based on specific facts and is presented in proper form.
Computer and Internet Use
The library is not responsible for passersby seeing what materials or websites are being used by library patrons either on library computers or
personal laptops brought into the building.
The Library’s website allows linking to outside sites. These sites may have privacy policies that differ from those of Hood College or the
Beneficial-Hodson Library. Neither the Library nor the College can be responsible for your privacy when you disclose information to outside websites. Computer users should be aware that the Internet is not always secure and that the privacy of credit card transactions and other communications is not assured.