Confidentiality of Circulation Records

Based on the powers vested in the Board of Trustees of the Akron-Summit County Public Library system in the Ohio Revised Code 3375.40 and pursuant to the recommendations of the Council of the American Library Association and the Board of Directors of the Ohio Library Association, the Akron-Summit County Public Library adopts the following policy on the confidentiality of library records:

The Akron-Summit County Public Library specifically recognizes that its circulation records and other records identifying the names of library users with specific materials are confidential in nature. No such records shall be made available to any agency of state, federal, or local government, or to any individual not specifically authorized by the Librarian-Director for legitimate business purposes, except pursuant to such process, order, or subpoena as may be authorized under the authority of, and pursuant to, federal, state, or local law relating to civil, criminal, or administrative discovery procedure or legislative investigatory power.

Upon receipt of such process, order, or subpoena, the library’s officers will consult with their legal counsel to determine if such process, order, or subpoena is in proper form and if there is a showing of good cause for its issuance in a court of competent jurisdiction. If the process, order, or subpoena is not in proper form or if good cause has not been shown, the Library will insist that such defects be cured.

Approved by the Board of Trustees      January 1983