Library Policies
Privacy Awareness Notice for E-mail Reference
The UC Davis General Library is committed to protecting the privacy of individuals who use our collections and services. The information we collect via our Email Reference Service form is kept in the strictest confidence and helps us provide and improve these services. All UC Davis General Library staff follow the American Library Association Code of Ethics, which states that "we protect each user's right to privacy and confidentiality with respect to information sought or received and resources consulted, borrowed, acquired or transmitted."
The Email Reference Service form collects limited personal information for several reasons. We may need to ask additional questions to clarify your request, or to send you materials in response to your query by mail or e-mail. Some resources are licensed by the University for faculty, staff and students only, so we need to know whether you are affiliated with the University. We retain information on UCD affiliation for statistical purposes.
While answering your question, we may refer you to web sites that are not maintained by the UC Davis General Library. Examples include full-text online journals, article indexes and web sites for other UC Davis departments. Please note that these sites may have different privacy policies and that the General Library has no control or responsibility for these policies.
While we do whatever we can to protect your privacy, please be aware that information or files transferred via the Internet or stored on Internet-accessible computers may be vulnerable to unscrupulous users. We urge you to use caution and follow accepted Internet safety guidelines. See the National Infrastructure Protection Center (http://www.nipc.gov/warnings/computertips.htm) for basic tips, or the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse (http://www.privacyrights.org/fs/fs18-cyb.htm) or CERT (http://www.cert.org/tech_tips/home_networks.html) for more detailed information. In addition, the Library may be required to disclose private information in response to a court-ordered warrant or subpoena. The USA PATRIOT Act [pdf] (http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=107_cong_public_laws&docid=f:publ056.107.pdf), passed by Congress (Public Law 107-56) expands the types of records that can be sought without a court order.
Rev. 1/9/03
Based on UC Irvine Library "Ask a Librarian" privacy statement http://www.lib.uci.edu/services/ask/askprivacy.html) (accessed 1/6/03)
