Albin O. Kuhn Library & Gallery
Maryland State law directs that a
"... free association, school, college or university library in this state shall prohibit inspection, use, or disclosure of any circulation record or other item, collection, or grouping of information about an individual that:
The only legally permissible exception is if a record is used or disclosed "in connection with the library's ordinary business ... and only for the purposes [it] was created." Examples might include fines transmitted to the Business Office for collection or providing a user with their own loan information.
Other requests for information should be declined. Such requests might include but not be limited to:
Information may be released to a law enforcement official who presents a lawful court order, subpoena or search warrant. All law enforcement officials should offer appropriate identification before presenting any court orders. Federal Officials may reference USA PATRIOT Act and request confidentiality regarding their inquiry. Federal law enforcement agents (such as the FBI) have been requested to contact the UMBC Legal Office BEFORE visiting a campus venue. If they follow that protocol, the Legal office will call to tell the campus venue that a law enforcement official is on the way and to advise on how to respond to their inquiry. If a staff member is approached by someone claiming to be a law enforcement official and asking to see Library records that staff member should:
References:
Annotated Code of Maryland, Education Article § 23-107 (2002)*
* text of Annotated Code of Maryland, Education Article § 23-107. Circulation records:
(a) Inspection, use, or disclosure prohibited.- Subject to the provisions of subsection (b) of this section, a free association, school, college or university library in this State shall prohibit inspection, use, or disclosure of any circulation record or other item, collection, or grouping of information about an individual that:
(1) Is maintained by a library;
(2) Contains an individual's name or the identifying number, symbol, or other identifying particular assigned to the individual; and
(3) Identifies the use a patron makes of that library's materials, services, or facilities.
(b) Exceptions.- A free association, school, college, or university library in the State shall permit inspection, use, or disclosure of the circulation record of an individual only in connection with the library's ordinary business and only for the purposes for which the record was created.
[1988, ch. 233; 1990, ch. 635.] (end of text from Annotated Code of Maryland)
USA PATRIOT Act
guideline effective July 1, 1988; rewritten 3/27/92, 4/22/03, 6/6/03 LW, edited LW 8/2/12 to include text of Annotated Code of MD.
UMBC attorney review June 5, 2003/final approval 6/6/03.