Confidentiality of Library Records

Another responsibility of the library and Board is to protect the confidentiality of a patron's library records. No library record that identifies the library materials a patron has requested, used or borrowed can be released or disclosed except in certain instances as defined by law. (For more information about this law see Montana Laws.)

The Board may want to formally adopt a policy that specifically recognizes the library's circulation records as confidential in nature. It is important that all library staff be advised that these records cannot be made available to any agency of state, federal or local government except by a court order, national security letter or subpoena or written permission from the patron.