Privacy Gone Too Far?
By Marie Anne
@Ldyjarhead (10233)
United States
February 22, 2008 1:37pm CST
Here's the scenario:
I returned two books to the local library yesterday and went searching for more to check out. I was hoping to find more by one of the authors of a book I'd just returned, but I couldn't remember her name.
I went to the computer nearby to access my account and as luck would have it, the book had already been entered as returned so there was no record of it. I looked for a way to find my history, but nope, not an option.
I asked at the check out desk if they'd give me that information and they said it was no longer available as soon as a book was checked in. I asked why, and they said it was due to privacy/security issues.
Ummm, hello ... I was asking about what book I had taken out, not any information about anyone else. Nope. That information is not even available to the library staff.
All of this supposedly came out after 9/11. Apparently the ACLU or somesuch organization claimed that if someone had access to the type of books you read (like how to build bombs or whatever), you could be 'profiled'.
SO WHAT?
I could give a rat's you-know-what if anyone knows what type of books I'm reading. Its not like its available to John Q. Public, it would be available to library staff and, more importantly, TO ME ...
If I were going to do something illegal or read material that for some reason I didn't want anyone to know about, I'd buy it and have it sent to my home in a plain brown wrapper. I sure wouldn't leave a paper trail at the local library.
What say you? Has the privacy issue gone too far?
3 people like this
9 responses
@p1kef1sh (45681)
•
11 Mar 08
How bizarre. Now I have sometimes wished that I could erase some history. But to not be able to find something as mundane as a book you've forgotton the title of, that's weird. However, surely if the terrorists want to profile you so do the FBI. What hidden meanings could they find in "You only live twice", "To kill a Mocking Bird", "The Dawn of the Day", "The Dambusters". Sound like you've had a lucky escape there. LOL.
@Ldyjarhead (10233)
• United States
11 Mar 08
Well they sure wouldn't find anything interesting in my reading history.
The only literature I normally check out is Christian fiction.
@gabs8513 (48686)
• United Kingdom
25 Feb 08
Wow well I have to say that is the first time that I have heard this
I do know this is not in the UK
I mean they knew it was you who had the Book so what is the Problem there all you wanted to know was the Name of the Author so what was wrong in giving that to you???
I do hope you managed to find out the Author after all that
@Ldyjarhead (10233)
• United States
25 Feb 08
It wasn't that they didn't WANT to give it to me. The workers were all sympathetic but couldn't do anything about it.
As soon as the book is scanned as being returned, the information is no longer available in the computer.
They had two very large carts of books behind them that had been recently returned, and they told me if I could describe what the book looked like, they could go through them for me, but that's the best they could do.
I had no idea the title and author, so there's no way I could describe it to them, and I wasn't allowed to go look myself.
@elisa812 (3026)
• United States
23 Feb 08
Yeah, that does seem really strange to me. I have also had the same problem when I've wanted to go back and try to look at my history to get the name of a book that I'd already read and wanted to find again cause I really liked it. I was really surprised that there was no record of it, but I didn't realize that it was for security reasons! It is pretty frustrating that we can't even access our own information.
@Ldyjarhead (10233)
• United States
23 Feb 08
Yup, I thought it was nuts myself.
What the heck does it matter if the library employees know what I've read? They have access to what I have currently checked out, so what's the difference?
@Ldyjarhead (10233)
• United States
22 Feb 08
Well the lesson I learned is to write down the names of the books/authors before turning them in.
Who knew? LOL ...
@Ldyjarhead (10233)
• United States
23 Feb 08
That's what I expected to be able to do. I can see what I have checked out now, but it doesn't keep a record of what's already been turned in.
Makes no sense to me whatsoever.
@SukiSmiles (1991)
• United States
22 Feb 08
That's pretty interesting. My uncle would probably love it because he thinks everyone is out to steal his identity in anyway possible. Can you remember the title of the book, maybe you can find the author that way.
@Ldyjarhead (10233)
• United States
22 Feb 08
Nope, haven't a clue what the title was. It was fiction, so is not like I could look up a subject either.
I'm really bad about titles and authors. I love to read, but I really don't pay attention to titles and such. Weird, huh?
@arkaf61 (10881)
• Canada
23 Feb 08
FOr me, it has. But I guess that's just me.
WHo cares if someone can see what I'm reading?
LIke you, if I was reading or planning something illegal I would certainly not do it at the library.
ON the other hand, nowadays people seems to live with such fear and get suspicious so easily, while there is a bigger trend to sough private/personal information at all levels... I don't know. Conclusions are not always fair and maybe someone would conclude that my reading habits fit the profile for a terrorist or a mass murderer.
SO although I do feel that this thing about privacy is going too far, I am aware that strange things are happening and ... well one never knows.
@Chey1970 (1186)
• United States
22 Feb 08
Ummm what can I say, but "wow". Ok, I don't use the library, for I like doing things at my own liesure. However, this does seem very interesting, and I can see both sides to the matter.
One the privacy issue, of being profiled for the type of books you check out. I don't think that would set well with me much at all.
Then on the other hand, like you said, it's a public library, you pretty much open yourself up. If you don't want no one knowing your business, order it online or but from a book store.
@Ldyjarhead (10233)
• United States
22 Feb 08
Thanks for your input, Chey. I have to say I'm still shaking my head on this one.
And I STILL don't know who that author was. Grrrrr ...
@jhl930 (3601)
• United States
22 Feb 08
I think that I would have ask the people at the library if they were out of their minds..because that is really gone way too far..I mean seriously why in the world would that be a privacy issue...that just doesn't make any sense to me..it's like you said you were asking about yourself..not what your neighbor was checking out or anything like that!
@Ldyjarhead (10233)
• United States
22 Feb 08
That's exactly what I was saying, but apparently its the law, they didn't make it up at this particular library.
And it wasn't that they were refusing to give me the information, THEY didn't even have the information. The computers are set up to delete the history as soon as the book is scanned as being returned.
I don't care the reasoning, its ludicrous.
