Confidentiality and Privacy Policy

The Rolling Hills Consolidated Library (“Library”) is committed to the principle of confidentiality of library records and a patron’s expectation of privacy when using library materials and services.

Policy 1.9 Confidentiality of Library Records
RHCL maintains a trust with members of the public and makes all reasonable and responsible effort to ensure that information about library users and the individual information that they use remains confidential. Library user records are protected by state law as described under RSMo §182.817. All library employees and volunteers will be trained to uphold the library’s policies on confidentiality. No information may be disclosed regarding or including the following:

1. A library user’s name (or whether an individual is a currently registered borrower or not).

2. A library user’s address.

3. A library user’s telephone number.

4. The library’s circulation records and their contents.

5. The library’s borrowers’ records and their contents.

6. A library user’s computer usage or sign-up records.

7. The number or character of questions asked by individual library users.

The frequency or content of a library user’s visits to the library or any other information gathered by the library will not be given, made available, or disclosed to any individual, corporation, institution, government, or law enforcement agency without a valid warrant or court order. No information will be shared with any outside entity for telemarketing purposes, but the library reserves the right to use patron contact information in its own fundraising or information gathering activities.

Approved by RHCL Board of Trustees on September 22, 2015.

Policy 2.32 Photography and Videography
This policy is intended to protect library users who may be endangered or inconvenienced by having their photo or video image taken in the library, while encouraging media and others to use cameras in a way which would help communicate the library's mission and promote the use of Rolling Hills Consolidated Library.

In order to provide all the library's customers with the safest and most pleasant library experience, anyone other than library staff wishing to use cameras and/or recording equipment within RHCL facilities must have their request approved in advance by the Library director or designee. Those photographing or videotaping children must have both the verbal permission of the library and a release from each child's legal guardian. Those photographing or videotaping adults must have verbal permission of the library and verbal permission from the subject as well.

Those not following this policy may be asked to put away their equipment and/or leave the facility. Library access by outside photographers may be limited either by time constraints or to specific areas depending upon such impact or effect such sessions could have upon other library users.

Rolling Hills Consolidated Library staff has the right to photograph, film, and record library usage and library events and customers for promotional use in print, online, and video formats when they are attending open, public events or participating in library programs. Visitors participating in any library event being captured on video or by photograph are advised that their participation acts as consent to being photographed, filmed, or recorded, unless they indicate otherwise to library staff. No special permission or release form is needed to take photos of crowds using the Library or attending programs. It is the responsibility of a parent/guardian to monitor their children’s activities in the library and notify staff if a child should not be photographed.

If photographing one person or a small group (3 or less), library staff will try to get the subject’s or the parent’s verbal consent prior to taking the photo. No written consent is needed. Verbal consent is solicited as a goodwill gesture, but it is not legally required. Staff will let the subject or parent know that the photo may be used in future library publications, on the library website or other social media, or in the local media. In order to publish the child’s name in conjunction with the photo, verbal consent from the parent must be obtained and documented.

Approved by RHCL Board of Trustees on March 24, 2020.

Policy 4.18 Public Computing
This policy applies to all users of Rolling Hills Consolidated Library computer workstations and the library’s wireless internet access.

The Library provides Internet access to Library users to support its mission of literacy and learning. Use of the Internet should be consistent with the Library's policies and procedures, as well as with all applicable local ordinances and state, federal, and international laws. The Library also expects that users shall make no effort to interfere with the operations and integrity of its systems, and may develop appropriate procedures to ensure the ongoing efficiency, reliability, and security of the network. The Library’s wireless network is intended for use by library users, not in neighboring locations or parking lots, and access may be restricted at any time.

Rolling Hills Consolidated Library Internet access is filtered; however, all filtering systems are imperfect and some unacceptable images may still be accessible. The use of filtering may still allow the viewing of inappropriate material or block legitimate sites. Users may submit a site’s URL to be considered for unblocking if they feel it is unreasonably blocked. Users may request temporary suspension of filtering for any legally compliant URL.

In view of the library’s status as a public facility, users are prohibited from accessing images of an explicitly graphic sexual or violent nature on library computers or on their mobile devices in view of others in library buildings. Any person who refuses to comply with these rules will be asked to leave the library premises and may have their network privileges suspended.

Users may not attempt to access library security-related or confidential information or unauthorized network assets. Users may not use library systems to falsely identify themselves, falsely represent themselves, or otherwise commit forgery or fraud. Users may not use library systems for the purpose of libel, slander, or any form of harassment. No unauthorized software may be downloaded, installed, or executed on library systems.

Misuse of hardware, software, or Internet access will result in loss of Internet and workstation privileges. Misuse includes but is not limited to: gaining unauthorized access to computer files, harassment of other users, disruptive behavior, violation of copyright laws, accessing illegal or obscene sites, creating images or materials that disturb the peace of the library or any user, violation of software license agreements, or misuse of hardware. Users may not impede functionality of the library’s system through monopolization or overload of resources.

User privacy is very important to the Rolling Hills Consolidated Library. Internet users should be aware that the Internet is not a secure medium and third parties may be able to obtain information regarding users’ activities. Rolling Hills Consolidated Library will not release information on the use of specific Internet resources by members of the public except as required by law or necessary for the proper operation of the library. Logs of Internet access may be retained for a brief period of time to facilitate network operations and then confidentially discarded.

E-mail accounts are not provided by the library. Users accessing web e-mail services do so at their own risk. Internet users may not use the Rolling Hills Consolidated Library’s name, address, or phone number in any way for their own personal use.

Library staff may limit use of any workstation and/or the wireless network for a single user or set a maximum amount of time allowed per day, per user due to considerations of user demand, space, or noise levels. Users are responsible for paying the library for any printing generated from their workstation.

The Library expressly disclaims any liability or responsibility arising from access to or information obtained through its Internet workstations or wireless network, or any consequences thereof. Any use of a Rolling Hills Consolidated Library Internet access point constitutes acceptance of this policy.

Approved by the RHCL Board of Trustees on July 25, 2002. Revised January 21, 2003, February 28, 2006, April 24, 2007, November 25, 2014.