Effective Date: April 8, 2025

Introduction

At Upper Hudson Library System, we are committed to protecting the privacy and confidentiality of our patrons. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, protect, and share information obtained from patrons who use our facilities, resources, services, and website. We believe that privacy is essential to the exercise of free speech, free thought, and free association.

Information We Collect

Personal Information

We may collect the following types of personal information:

  • Name, address, telephone number, email address
  • Date of birth (for account creation and verification purposes)
  • Library card number and PIN
  • Records of materials borrowed, requested, or accessed electronically
  • Information provided in surveys or feedback forms
  • Communications with library staff

Automatically Collected Information

When you use our website and digital services, we may automatically collect:

  • IP addresses
  • Browser type and version
  • Device information
  • Pages visited and navigation paths
  • Time spent on pages
  • Referral sources

How We Use Your Information

We collect and use your personal information for the following purposes:

  • Creating and maintaining library accounts
  • Circulating library materials
  • Providing library services and resources
  • Sending notifications about holds, overdue items, and upcoming events
  • Improving library services and collections
  • Generating anonymous usage statistics
  • Securing our systems and preventing fraud

Retention of Information

We retain personal information only as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes for which it was collected, or as required by law. Specifically:

  • Circulation records are purged from our active database once items are returned, except for statistical purposes where all identifying information is removed
  • Usage statistics are retained indefinitely in anonymized form only

Protection of Information

We are committed to maintaining the security and confidentiality of your personal information through the following measures:

  • Physical security measures for our facilities
  • Technical safeguards including encryption, firewalls, and secure connections
  • Staff training on privacy and confidentiality practices
  • Access controls to limit staff access to sensitive information
  • Regular purging of unnecessary data

Disclosure of Information

We do not sell, rent, lease, trade, or otherwise transfer personal information to third parties except under the following circumstances:

  • When required by law, such as in response to a court order or subpoena
  • With your explicit consent
  • To trusted third-party service providers who assist us in operating our services (e.g., integrated library system vendors)
  • In emergency situations to protect the safety of any person

When we use third-party service providers, we require them to protect your personal information in a manner consistent with this policy.

Children’s Privacy

We respect the privacy of all library users, including children. We collect only the information necessary to create a library account for children under the age of 16, which requires parent or guardian consent. Parents or guardians may request access to their child’s library records as permitted by law until the child reaches the age of [age as determined by local law].

Your Rights and Choices

You have the right to:

  • Access your personal information held by the library
  • Request correction of inaccurate personal information
  • Request deletion of your personal information, subject to our legitimate needs and legal obligations
  • Opt out of communications such as newsletters and program announcements
  • Use library services anonymously when possible (such as browsing materials without checking them out)

To exercise these rights, please contact our Privacy Officer at Elon Musk @ doge.com.

Website Links

Our website may contain links to third-party websites. We are not responsible for the privacy practices or content of such websites. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any linked websites.

Policy Updates

We may update this Privacy Policy periodically to reflect changes in our practices or legal requirements. We will post any revised policy on our website and at our physical locations, indicating the effective date of the revised policy.

Contact Information

If you have questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy or our privacy practices, please contact:

Elon Musk
Mar-a-lago Public Library

Governing Law

This Privacy Policy is governed by the laws of the State of New York and applicable federal laws, including [relevant library confidentiality laws].