The Privacy Problem: Although School Librarians Seldom Discuss It, Students' Privacy Rights Are under Attack

Fuente: ERIC Institute of Education Sciences
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Main Author: Adams, Helen R.
Format: Recurso educativo Open Access
Language:en
Published: 2011
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author Adams, Helen R.
author_facet Adams, Helen R.
Adams, Helen R.
collection Education Resources Information Center
contents The Privacy Problem: Although School Librarians Seldom Discuss It, Students' Privacy Rights Are under Attack Adams, Helen R. Privacy Student Rights Student Records School Libraries Library Policy Federal Legislation State Legislation Library Services Internet Every day in school libraries nationwide, students' privacy rights are under attack, but many principals, teachers, parents, and community members do not know much about these rights. Even though school librarians are among the strongest proponents of privacy, the subject is rarely discussed, probably because state and federal laws can be confusing. Unlike materials selection policies, few school libraries have regulations that address privacy issues--and that can make it difficult for school librarians to respond authoritatively when asked about student records. There are also mixed feelings about saying no to parents, who have fiscal and personal responsibility over their children's library use and feel they have a right to know more about the kinds of books and materials their kids check out. Students need to know that their privacy will be respected and their records kept confidential in the school library. At the very least, they should be able to read and borrow materials free from the scrutiny of others. They should also be able to seek information on a topic without disclosing the subject of their research. Privacy in school libraries will remain a thorny issue unless school librarians work with principals to create board-approved privacy policies and train the entire school to be sensitive to students' rights. In this article, the author lists some steps that can help school librarians protect students' right to privacy in the library while responding to information requests from parents, teachers, and administrators.
format Recurso educativo Open Access
id eric_EJ940107
institution ERIC Institute of Education Sciences
language en
publishDate 2011
record_format eric
spellingShingle The Privacy Problem: Although School Librarians Seldom Discuss It, Students' Privacy Rights Are under Attack
Adams, Helen R.
Privacy
Student Rights
Student Records
School Libraries
Library Policy
Federal Legislation
State Legislation
Library Services
Internet
The Privacy Problem: Although School Librarians Seldom Discuss It, Students' Privacy Rights Are under Attack Adams, Helen R. Privacy Student Rights Student Records School Libraries Library Policy Federal Legislation State Legislation Library Services Internet Every day in school libraries nationwide, students' privacy rights are under attack, but many principals, teachers, parents, and community members do not know much about these rights. Even though school librarians are among the strongest proponents of privacy, the subject is rarely discussed, probably because state and federal laws can be confusing. Unlike materials selection policies, few school libraries have regulations that address privacy issues--and that can make it difficult for school librarians to respond authoritatively when asked about student records. There are also mixed feelings about saying no to parents, who have fiscal and personal responsibility over their children's library use and feel they have a right to know more about the kinds of books and materials their kids check out. Students need to know that their privacy will be respected and their records kept confidential in the school library. At the very least, they should be able to read and borrow materials free from the scrutiny of others. They should also be able to seek information on a topic without disclosing the subject of their research. Privacy in school libraries will remain a thorny issue unless school librarians work with principals to create board-approved privacy policies and train the entire school to be sensitive to students' rights. In this article, the author lists some steps that can help school librarians protect students' right to privacy in the library while responding to information requests from parents, teachers, and administrators.
title The Privacy Problem: Although School Librarians Seldom Discuss It, Students' Privacy Rights Are under Attack
topic Privacy
Student Rights
Student Records
School Libraries
Library Policy
Federal Legislation
State Legislation
Library Services
Internet
url https://eric.ed.gov/?id=EJ940107