Balancing Privacy and Strategic Planning Needs: A Case Study in De-Identification of Patron Data
Abstract
The rise of evidence-based practices and assessment in libraries in recent years, combined with tying outcomes to future funding and resource allotments, has made libraries more reliant on patron data to determine how to allocate limited resources and funding. Libraries who want to use data for research and analysis but also wanting to protect patron privacy find themselves wondering how to balance these two priorities. This article explores The Seattle Public Library’s attempt to strike the balance between patron privacy and data analysis with the use of a data warehouse with de-identified patron data, as well as implications of data warehouses and de-identification as an option for other libraries.
References
American Library Association. “Library Bill of Rights.” Accessed January 12, 2017. http://www.ala.org/advocacy/intfreedom/librarybill.
Garfinkel, Simson L. 2015. “De-Identification of Personally Identifiable Information.” NIST. Accessed January 12, 2017. http://csrc.nist.gov/publications/drafts/nistir-8053/nistir_8053_draft.pdf
Gilbert, Chris. 2015. “Coming soon to your St. Paul library: Data tracking.” Minnesota Public Radio News. June 30. Accessed January 12, 2017. http://www.mprnews.org/story/2015/06/30/library-analytics.
International Federation of Library Associations. 2016. “IFLA Statement on Privacy in the Library Environment.” Last modified April 5, 2016. http://www.ifla.org/publications/node/10056.
Loter, Jim. 2016. “Gaining Insights and Protecting Privacy: De-identifying Patron Data at The Seattle Public Library.” Alki 32(1): 11-13. Accessed January 12, 2017. https://wala.memberclicks.net/assets/Alki/alki_mar2016_v32-1-v3.pdf.
United States. 2008. Privacy: Alternatives Exist for Enhancing Protection of Personally Identifiable Information: Report to Congressional Requesters. [Washington, D.C.]: U.S. Govt. Accountability Office. http://purl.access.gpo.gov/GPO/LPS111810.
U.S. House. 107th Congress. H.R.3162, Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism (USA PATRIOT ACT) Act of 2001. Washington, Government Printing Office, 2001. Accessed January 12, 2017. https://www.congress.gov/bill/107th-congress/house-bill/3162.
U.S. House. 114th Congress. H.R.2048, USA FREEDOM Act of 2015. Washington, Government Printing Office, 2001. Accessed January 12, 2017. https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/2048.
Yoose, Becky, and Stephen Halsey. 2016. “De-identifying Patron Data to Balance Privacy and Insight.” Presented at Public Library Association Conference, Denver, Colorado, April 7. Accessed January 12, 2017. http://2016.placonference.org/program/de-identifying-patron-data-to-balance-privacy-and-insight/.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5860/jifp.v2i1.6250
Refbacks
- There are currently no refbacks.
© 2024 OIF