Patron Right to Privacy
The Manatee County Public
Library System recognizes the need to protect your right to privacy
about the questions you ask and the materials you borrow and read. In
order to protect the privacy of each individual, Florida law mandates
confidentiality of your registration and borrowing records, and
Manatee County Public Library System policies and procedures carry out
that intent.
Florida Law
Library patron
registration and borrowing records are confidential per Chapter 257.261, Florida State Statute, as
amended (1996):
All
registration and circulation records of every public library, except
statistical reports of registration and circulation, are confidential
and exempt from the provisions of s. 119.07(1) and from s. 24(a) of
Art. 1 of the State Constitution. Except in accordance with proper
judicial order, a person may not make known in any manner any
information contained in such records, except as provided in this
section. As used in this section, the term “registration records”
includes any information that a library requires a patron to provide in
order to become eligible to borrow books and other materials, and the
term “circulation records” includes all information that identifies
the patrons who borrow particular books and other materials. This
section does not prohibit any library, or any business operating
jointly with the library, from disclosing information to municipal or
county law enforcement officials, or to judicial officials, for the
purpose of recovering overdue books, documents, films, or other items
or materials owned or otherwise belonging to the library. This
section does not prohibit any library, or any business operating
jointly with the library, from disclosing information to municipal or
county law enforcement officials or to judicial officials or to any
business for the purpose of collecting fines on overdue books,
documents, films, or other items or materials. In the case of a public
library patron under the age of 16, a public library may only release
confidential information relating to the parent or guardian of the
person under 16.
Any person who
violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the second
degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.