New York University Division of Libraries staff members and student staff hold in confidence all information about individual library users and their choices of research or study material, to the extent allowable by law. It is the policy of the NYU Division of Libraries that the privacy of all users shall be respected in compliance with federal and state laws and professional standards. This policy applies to all resources regardless of their format or means of delivery as well as to all services offered by the Division of Libraries. We protect each library user’s right to privacy and confidentiality with respect to information sought or received and resources consulted, borrowed, acquired, or transmitted.
The NYU Division of Libraries support and comply with New York State Law (New York State Civil Practice Law and Rules 4509, Chapter 112, Laws of 1988) with respect to the confidentiality of library records, including, but not limited to the circulation of materials, database searches, interlibrary loan transactions, reference queries, course reserve requests, and the use of audiovisual materials, films, and sound recordings.
All library records relating to an individual patron’s use of the library and its resources are confidential. These records may be consulted and used by library staff in the course of carrying out library operations, but will not be disclosed to others except upon the request or consent of the library user, or pursuant to subpoena, court order, or otherwise required by law. NYU Libraries forwards any law-enforcement request for patron records to the Office of Legal Counsel. Law prohibits the Division of Libraries staff from giving out any information regarding a patron’s library account to any other person regardless of their status or identity. To better protect the privacy of Library patrons, the NYU Division of Libraries has procedures in place that minimize the retention of library patron records.