Dartmouth Libraries protects the privacy of its users. Learn more.
Library employees are legally prohibited from providing information regarding a patron's library account to any other person regardless of their status or identity, except as required by a subpoena, search warrant, or court order.
Staff and student workers protect:
- registration information about borrowers,
- their requests for information and materials,
- and their loan transactions.
Patron Record Privacy
A library registration record is created for each patron. The record contains the borrower's name, address, and other identifying information. This information is used only for library circulation purposes. The Libraries' circulation function links a patron with the library materials they have checked out.
For each item checked out by a patron, the Libraries maintain the following information:
- Item-specific details such as the author, title, call number, and barcode number.
- The date charged, loan period, and the date due.
- The number of renewals and the date of the last renewal.
Staff or student workers will not disclose the following:
- The name of a patron who has a particular item checked out.
- The titles that are checked out to a particular patron.
- Personal information of any patron (address, phone number, email, etc.).
- Identify a patron who has checked out a particular item, or describe them in any other way.
Staff or student workers may take the following actions:
- Give the due date of a particular item.
- Recall any checked-out item (except for reserve material).
- Suggest that they contact class members regarding the item.
More Information from American Libraries Association
The Libraries encourage you to explore the ALA website for more information.
Web Statistics
Dartmouth Libraries collects and analyzes data about website usage to improve services. The Libraries may choose to use an externally hosted service (e.g., Google Analytics) to collect these data. Most external services use web browser cookies to track usage.
To opt out of such tracking (for the Dartmouth Libraries or any other website), examine the cookies you are accepting as you use the internet.