Notice of Privacy Practices 

Austin Public Library is committed to protecting the privacy and confidentiality of all customers, in line with legal requirements and the American Library Association's Code of Ethics. This policy outlines your privacy rights and responsibilities, as well as the steps the Library takes to safeguard your personal information while balancing privacy with convenience. While the Library works to protect your data, third-party services accessed through the Library have their own policies, and there are limits to the privacy protections the Library can offer. 

Austin Public Library provides access to internet resources equally to all Library customers and upholds and affirms the right of each individual to have access to constitutionally protected material in accordance with the American Library Association's Library Bill of Rights . 

Austin Public Library follows the City of Austin’s privacy policy where applicable. 

General Policy 

Types of Information We Collect 

• Information required to register for a library card or receive other library services (e.g. name, address, telephone number, email address, birthdate)
• Records of fees and fines owed and payments made
• Requests for interlibrary loan or reference service
• Sign-up information for library events and special programs 

Austin Public Library will not collect or retain your private and personally identifiable information (PII) without your consent. Individuals may choose to submit their names, email addresses, mailing addresses or telephone numbers in order to receive library services, such as registering for library cards, borrowing materials, receiving personal responses to questions or being added to specific mailing lists. If you consent to give us your PII, we will keep it confidential and will not sell, license or disclose it to any third party, except those working under contract to the library to provide library services and advance the mission of Austin Public Library, or except as required by law. 

Having other people help you with your account 
You may have other people help you with your account by providing them with your library card or card number and password. Please ask a staff member if you have questions about the process for having others assist you with your account. 

Items on hold 
Items placed on hold for library customers are shelved for pick-up in the public areas of our libraries. They are shelved under the first four letters of the customer's last name and the last four numbers of the customer's library card number. Customers of any age may choose to have other people pick up their holds. Holds will be checked out on the library card presented at the time of check-out.   

Cookies 
A cookie is a small data file, including a unique identifier, sent to your browser from a website and stored on your device. Cookies track online activity and personalize your experience. The Library may use cookies to verify authorized users, customize web pages, and improve site functionality. External sites linked from our pages may also use cookies; refer to their Terms of Use and Privacy Policies for details. You can adjust your browser settings to refuse cookies, but this may limit access to some library services from outside the library. 

Third Party Privacy 
Our website may contain links to external websites, including product sites and services that library users can opt into, but we do not control their content, privacy practices, or availability. These links do not imply endorsement. The Library partners with third parties to offer online services, digital collections, and streaming content, and when connecting to these online services, we only release information needed to verify users as Austin Public Library customers. Austin Public Library also maintains presences on social media platforms and other websites which may have different privacy practices from those described in the Austin Public Library Privacy Policy. We encourage you to become familiar with privacy practices of other sites you visit. 

Google Analytics 
The Austin Public Library uses Google Analytics track some of the information about how customers use the Library website to improve website functionality. The Library does not collect PII through Google Analytics. 

Data and Security Safeguards 
The Library takes steps to protect PII. We securely delete or shred data no longer needed for library purposes and use appropriate technology to safeguard PII while in our custody. We also remove PII from aggregate, summary data used for monthly reports, library certification, and other public reporting purposes. The Library regularly clears cookies, browsing history, and cached files from our systems, including public computers. 

We restrict data access through strong password protections and secure servers. Staff may only access PII to perform library duties and will not disclose it unless required by law or to fulfill your service request. 

Records of customer transactions are kept only as long as is required to collect administrative statistics and then are erased. Library records will only be disclosed under court order, subpoena, or warrant as outlined in relevant local, state, and federal law.