Privacy Policy

Introduction

One of the cornerstones of librarianship is respect for the privacy of library users. Duke University Libraries recognize the importance of protecting your privacy and the confidentiality of the information that you share with us when you use our web sites or other library services. Described below is our policy on the collection, use, disclosure, maintenance and protection of personal information that you provide to us.

What information is collected and how it is used

When you use this website, our web server collects certain technical information from your web browser, including your browser type, operating system type, internet address, and the web address of the page from which you linked to our site. In some cases our web server may use browser "cookies" or other technologies to maintain session and preference information or to provide other complex functionality. You may adjust your Internet browser to disable the use of cookies and other web technologies; however, some features of this website may not function properly if you block these technologies. Any information that we automatically collect via this web site is only used internally for technical troubleshooting, to improve the usability of our website, and to track aggregate statistical trends. Except for information that you choose to submit to us (through web forms, e-mail messages, chat sessions, or other communication), we do not collect any personally identifiable information (such as your name, address, phone number, age, gender, ID numbers, etc.) on our website. If you do choose to submit personally identifiable information to us, that information is used only for the purpose for which you submitted it, and will not be used for other purposes. Information from other sources is not combined with the information that we collect. While we may disclose information about use of our web site in aggregate (such as server use statistics) we will not disclose to third parties any information that could be used to identify individuals or their use of Library resources, except as required by law or appropriate law enforcement procedures.

The Library does maintain personally identifiable information for library accounts of valid library users. If you are affiliated with Duke University, the library automatically receives personally identifiable information to create and update your library account from the Registrar's Office (for students) or Human Resources (for employees). If you purchase borrowing privileges, we must obtain certain information about you in order to provide you with a library account. We will maintain confidentiality of information sought or received, and materials consulted, borrowed or acquired, including database search records, reference interviews, circulation records, interlibrary loan records, and other personally identifiable uses of library materials, facilities, or services. The Library maintains several web-based management tools, such as forms related to renewing books, asking reference questions, saving search histories or resource preferences, requesting materials, etc. The personally identifiable information collected through these tools and stored in the library's computer systems will only be used to maintain your library account and provide services to you and is not made available to any other entity outside the Library except as required by law or appropriate law enforcement procedures.

Services provided by third parties

This website contains links to websites and licensed databases that are not maintained or supported by Duke University Libraries. In some cases library services may be provided via third party tools (chat or search widgets, for example). While you may reach these services via library web sites, the Library is not responsible for the privacy practices or the content of these third parties, and we encourage users of these services to familiarize themselves with their policies before using them.

Access to information we have about you

Any person is entitled to view their library account information in person. Library account information for students must be corrected through the Registrar's Office and library account information for Duke employees must be corrected through Human Resources. Only patrons with proper identification and who have purchased borrowing privileges may correct their library account information through the library.

Security

Transmissions made on the Internet are generally not secure, since the information is transferred in clear text. In some cases transactions made via our web site are conducted using a SSL (Secure Socket Layer protocol) connection in order to provide increased security to the information as it is transmitted. Only authorized library staff with assigned password may access personally identifiable information stored in the library's computer systems and then only for the purpose of performing library work. We use industry-standard security measures to protect any personal information that you may provide to us. However, we cannot guarantee that your submissions to our website, any content residing on our servers, or any transmissions from our server will be completely secure.

Changes

We will post any substantial changes in this privacy policy at least 30 days prior to the change taking effect. Any information collected under this current policy will remain bound by the terms of this privacy policy. After the changes take effect, all new information collected, if any, will be subject to the revised privacy policy.

Contact

If you have questions about this policy or feel that we have acted in violation of this policy, please contact the webmaster.

References

Duke University Libraries also adheres to Duke University's privacy and other computer policies, published by the University's Office of Information Technology.

For more information about the privacy and confidentiality principles supported by the library profession, please see this section of the website of the American Library Association.