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Article
Publication date: 13 July 2023

Anita Katulić

The research aims to establish the predictors of the acceptance of technical and organizational measures for the protection of personal data to ensure information privacy in…

Abstract

Purpose

The research aims to establish the predictors of the acceptance of technical and organizational measures for the protection of personal data to ensure information privacy in Croatian libraries, starting from the constructs of the APCO Macro Model.

Design/methodology/approach

Two data collection methods were used: the online survey questionnaire method and the analysis of the websites of independent libraries in the Republic of Croatia.

Findings

The results show that the acceptance of measures for personal data protection by a library manager is mostly influenced by perceived knowledge, while culture and trust have a positive correlation of moderate strength. Awareness has a low positive correlation, and privacy experience is not statistically related to the acceptance of measures. There is no statistically significant difference in the acceptance of measures for the protection of personal data concerning age and work experience in the profession. There is a statistically significant correlation between compliance with the principle of transparency and the size of the library.

Originality/value

The study is valuable as it examined the characteristics of the culture of information privacy in libraries and determined the existence and impact of factors that influence ensuring the information privacy of users in Croatian libraries.

Article
Publication date: 9 November 2022

Katie Elson Anderson

The purpose of this paper is to inform libraries and library workers about the importance of protecting patron privacy.

135

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to inform libraries and library workers about the importance of protecting patron privacy.

Design/methodology/approach

An overview on the topic of patron privacy and libraries, including literature and best practices.

Findings

Patron privacy is potentially being compromised in a number of different ways, and it is important to be informed, to educate and to organize to protect patron privacy.

Originality/value

Privacy is a core value of librarianship, and this column highlights ways to become informed about the ways in which patron privacy can be compromised.

Details

Library Hi Tech News, vol. 39 no. 10
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0741-9058

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 10 June 2014

Younghee Noh

The purpose of this paper is to research attempts to educate public librarians in the importance of user privacy issues and assist in reducing privacy violations by providing…

2206

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to research attempts to educate public librarians in the importance of user privacy issues and assist in reducing privacy violations by providing librarians with an educational program on the subject and measuring its effects.

Design/methodology/approach

Research was conducted to examine the influence of education on library user privacy. An education program on the topic was developed and effects of the training were measured with pre- and post-seminar surveys.

Findings

Concern for the protection of user privacy increased after the training, and its importance was rated higher as participating librarians became aware of the current likelihood of privacy violations, given the amount of user data libraries collect regularly. The demand for user privacy education also significantly increased after the librarian training course had been completed.

Originality/value

This research verified that user privacy awareness can be greatly improved by educating librarians. The awareness change in librarians could greatly contribute to user protection and the basic mission of the library while controversial issues about privacy violation and filter bubbles are seriously discussed.

Article
Publication date: 7 September 2010

Sneha Tripathi and Aditya Tripathi

Ethics is an inherent concept for any profession. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the ethical perspective of librarianship. The focus of the discussion is to identify…

1142

Abstract

Purpose

Ethics is an inherent concept for any profession. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the ethical perspective of librarianship. The focus of the discussion is to identify whether it is ethics or law which should supercede in changing the legal and social environment, with special reference to India.

Design/methodology/approach

The state of a right to privacy in India is elaborated. The discussion is focused around library ethics and user privacy, which is a much less talked about matter in Indian librarianship than in the developed world.

Findings

Professional ethics should be given equal consideration while framing law and policies for non‐profit organizations like libraries. The issue of privacy has been given very little credence in terms of library rules and regulations in India. There is a need to create awareness among the masses on the issue of privacy and it should be considered as an important component while formulating guidelines for library policies.

Practical implications

The role of library associations is considered to be vital in creating awareness among the libraries and information centers. Library associations in India are urged to make similar efforts like American Library Association. Impact of information technology on privacy is explored as one of the emerging research areas.

Originality/value

This paper is the first of its kind to study how the libraries in India are dealing with the issue of privacy and highlight the need for the information professionals to protect their professional ethics.

Details

Library Review, vol. 59 no. 8
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0024-2535

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 27 September 2023

Emily Zoe Mann, Stephanie A. Jacobs, Kirsten M. Kinsley and Laura I. Spears

Building on past studies of library privacy policies, this review looks at how privacy information is shared at universities and colleges in the state of Florida. Beyond the…

Abstract

Purpose

Building on past studies of library privacy policies, this review looks at how privacy information is shared at universities and colleges in the state of Florida. Beyond the question of whether a library-specific privacy policy exists, this review evaluates what is covered in the policies – whether topics such as how student data is stored, retained, de-identified and disposed of are broached in the statements, and whether specific data sets covering instruction, reference and surveillance are mentioned. The purpose of this study is to open the door to directed exploration into student awareness of privacy policies and spark conversation about positionality of libraries regarding privacy.

Design/methodology/approach

This review was done using a cross-sectional study design through observation of public-facing library privacy policies of higher education institutions in Florida.

Findings

Findings include that the majority of Florida academic libraries do not have a public-facing privacy policy. Only 15 out of the 70 schools reviewed had one. A large portion of those came from doctoral universities with associate’s colleges having none, and baccalaureate/associate’s colleges having only two. The policies that were in place tended to be institution-centered rather than patron-centered. Most categories of listed data collected were in the area of collections, website or computer usage.

Originality/value

The value of this review is that it adds to the literature studying privacy policies in academic libraries. Going forward, this research could address statewide practice in privacy policies as well as helping to lay pathways for working with students and other library patrons to gauge their interests and concerns about privacy.

Details

Information and Learning Sciences, vol. 124 no. 9/10
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2398-5348

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 23 February 2022

Anita Katulić, Tihomir Katulić and Ivana Hebrang Grgić

The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between the legal obligation of European libraries to ensure the transparent personal data processing and respect for user…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between the legal obligation of European libraries to ensure the transparent personal data processing and respect for user privacy. This paper will examine how libraries use privacy notices on websites to communicate with patrons about the processing of personal data and in what manner have libraries been guided by applicable transparency guidelines.

Design/methodology/approach

The method used is the analysis of privacy policies and other privacy documents found on the websites of national libraries. The analysis sample includes documents of 45 European national libraries, 28 out of those being national libraries of European Union (EU) Member States. The elements for this analysis are derived from the mandatory elements of the General Data Protection Regulation and the recommendations of the WP29/EDPB Transparency Guidelines.

Findings

The findings suggest that European national libraries largely adhere to EU data protection standards. In total, 60% libraries use a separate privacy page, and 53% of the EU Member State national libraries websites managed to comply with publishing all necessary data protection information in a way recommended by the Guidelines, compared to 47% of non-Member State national libraries.

Originality/value

The research contributes to the understanding of the importance of the principle of transparency and its operationalization.

Details

Digital Library Perspectives, vol. 38 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2059-5816

Keywords

Open Access
Article
Publication date: 13 September 2018

Patrick O’Brien, Scott W.H. Young, Kenning Arlitsch and Karl Benedict

The purpose of this paper is to examine the extent to which HTTPS encryption and Google Analytics services have been implemented on academic library websites, and discuss the…

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Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the extent to which HTTPS encryption and Google Analytics services have been implemented on academic library websites, and discuss the privacy implications of free services that introduce web tracking of users.

Design/methodology/approach

The home pages of 279 academic libraries were analyzed for the presence of HTTPS, Google Analytics services and privacy-protection features.

Findings

Results indicate that HTTPS implementation on library websites is not widespread, and many libraries continue to offer non-secured connections without an automatically enforced redirect to a secure connection. Furthermore, a large majority of library websites included in the study have implemented Google Analytics and/or Google Tag Manager, yet only very few connect securely to Google via HTTPS or have implemented Google Analytics IP anonymization.

Practical implications

Librarians are encouraged to increase awareness of this issue and take concerted and coherent action across five interrelated areas: implementing secure web protocols (HTTPS), user education, privacy policies, informed consent and risk/benefit analyses.

Originality/value

Third-party tracking of users is prevalent across the web, and yet few studies demonstrate its extent and consequences for academic library websites.

Details

Online Information Review, vol. 42 no. 6
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1468-4527

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 29 September 2021

Zongda Wu, Shigen Shen, Huxiong Li, Haiping Zhou and Dongdong Zou

First, the authors analyze the key problems faced by the protection of digital library readers' data privacy and behavior privacy. Second, the authors introduce the…

Abstract

Purpose

First, the authors analyze the key problems faced by the protection of digital library readers' data privacy and behavior privacy. Second, the authors introduce the characteristics of all kinds of existing approaches to privacy protection and their application limitations in the protection of readers' data privacy and behavior privacy. Lastly, the authors compare the advantages and disadvantages of each kind of existing approaches in terms of security, efficiency, accuracy and practicality and analyze the challenges faced by the protection of digital library reader privacy.

Design/methodology/approach

In this paper, the authors review a number of research achievements relevant to privacy protection and analyze and evaluate the application limitations of them in the reader privacy protection of a digital library, consequently, establishing the constraints that an ideal approach to library reader privacy protection should meet, so as to provide references for the follow-up research of the problem.

Findings

As a result, the authors conclude that an ideal approach to reader privacy protection should be able to comprehensively improve the security of all kinds of readers' privacy information on the untrusted server-side as a whole, under the premise of not changing the architecture, efficiency, accuracy and practicality of a digital library system.

Originality/value

Along with the rapid development of new network technologies, such as cloud computing, the server-side of a digital library is becoming more and more untrustworthy, thereby, posing a serious threat to the privacy of library readers. In fact, the problem of reader privacy has become one of the important obstacles to the further development and application of digital libraries.

Details

Library Hi Tech, vol. 40 no. 6
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0737-8831

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 8 June 2021

Bill Marino

The integration of third-party resources on library websites may be inadvertently contributing to surveillance technologies without user knowledge. This study set out to determine…

1149

Abstract

Purpose

The integration of third-party resources on library websites may be inadvertently contributing to surveillance technologies without user knowledge. This study set out to determine the prevalence of third-party tracking cookies on Association of Research Libraries (ARL) member homepages, the entities that are tracking users and for what purpose and what control users have over their cookie preferences.

Design/methodology/approach

Homepages from the 124 ARL member libraries were visited. Evidence of a privacy or cookie statement was collected and cookie logs were captured. This data were compared against the Disconnect list of known trackers and analyzed to determine the extent to which third-party tracking cookies were used across ARL sites, who was setting the cookies and for what purpose, and whether this use differed with regards to a library's identifying features.

Findings

It was determined that many ARL libraries do contribute to the ability to track a user's activity across the web, with one-third containing third-party tracking cookies. A user's contact with tracking cookies is influenced by various traits defining the institution. Users are given very little control over the cookies logged on their machines.

Originality/value

This study explores library efforts to protect user privacy, adopting an introspective approach that focuses on library websites. It will provide discussion points for librarians to question not only what third-party tracking cookies are present on their sites and why, but also how to educate their users about privacy issues.

Details

Reference Services Review, vol. 49 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0090-7324

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 13 March 2017

Bruce Massis

The purpose of this column is to offer a snapshot of privacy in the library today.

423

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this column is to offer a snapshot of privacy in the library today.

Design/methodology/approach

Literature review and commentary on this topic that has been addressed by professionals, researchers and practitioners.

Findings

It is significant that library users understand the disruptive nature of the online environment and its impact on privacy. Library users should welcome the controls and protections put in place while working in an open access environment, so that one does not fall victim to privacy breaches. After all, many years ago, the American Library Association codified that privacy is a “fundamental human right”.

Originality/value

The value in exploring this topic is to communicate that privacy in a library is of paramount concern, and constant vigilance is needed to ensure a library user’s right to privacy.

Details

Information and Learning Science, vol. 118 no. 3/4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2398-5348

Keywords

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