MLA 2024 Conference

According to the American Library Association (ALA), “Privacy is essential to free inquiry in the library because it enables library users to select, access, and consider information and ideas without fear of embarrassment, judgment, punishment, or ostracism.” Additionally, in Minnesota, library users have specific privacy protections through MN Statues 13.40, Sub.2.

The Rochester Public Library (RPL) Privacy Committee--a cross divisional team of 6 formed in November 2022--utilizes the ALA Privacy Audit Guide during their evaluation process, which consists of a set of core questions including what type of data is collected, why the data is collected, who has access to the data, whether the data needs to be collected, retention/storage implications etc. with the goal of determining if changes are needed to ensure the privacy and security of customer data.

Connect with the RPL Privacy Committee as we share the framework that has been instrumental in successfully working with divisions to audit data privacy in our library. This session is intended for public libraries that are interested in learning more about data privacy and the role that libraries have in protecting private data.