Confidentiality of Registration and Patron Use Records

Public Records Act, California Government Code Sections 7920.000 through 7931.000, mandates confidentiality of registration and patron use records, and Contra Costa County Library policies and procedures carry out that intent.

Specifically, the term “patron use records” in section 7927.105  includes both of the following:

“(1) Any written or electronic record that is used to identify a library patron and is provided by the patron to become eligible to borrow or use books and other materials. This includes, but is not limited to, a patron’s name, address, telephone number, or email address.

(2) Any written record or electronic transaction that identifies a patron’s borrowing information or use of library information resources. This includes, but is not limited to, database search records, borrowing records, class records, and any other personally identifiable uses of library resources, information requests, or inquiries.”

Library staff cannot give any information about a patron's registration and circulation record to anyone other than the patron, no matter what the age or relationship to the patron. For example, a parent cannot be told what material a child has checked out on the child's card without the child's consent.

Once materials are returned to the Library, as long as no fees or lost materials charges have been accrued, individual items are no longer attached to borrowing records and it is not possible to see a list of all past transactions. The Library does not maintain a history of materials that you have checked out.

USA PATRIOT Act Resolutions

• The Contra Costa County Library Commission passed a Resolution  on Section 215 of the USA PATRIOT Act on November 20, 2003.
• The Contra Costa County’s Board of Supervisors passed a Resolution  In the Matter of Preserving Civil Liberties Threatened by the USA Patriot Act on June 3, 2003.

For more information: The American Library Association has posted information on the USA PATRIOT Act and libraries.