Privacy Policy

General Privacy Policy

Your privacy is important to us, so we do everything we can to protect and respect your personal information and keep your library records confidential. The library strives to collect the least amount of personally identifiable information we can and avoids creating unnecessary records. Our library does not share your personally identifiable information with third parties unless required by law.

The library follows Colorado Laws C.R.S. 24-90-119: Privacy of User Records and C.R.S. 24-73-101: Consumer Data Privacy which require all public libraries in Colorado to guarantee the privacy of customer records and personal information.

What Information Do We Collect and Why?

We may collect the following personal information to access library services:

  • Name
  • Date of Birth
  • Address
  • Telephone Number and/or Email Address
  • Library barcode number
  • Items currently checked-out, hold requests, and current interlibrary loans
  • Fee and payment history
  • Sign-up information for library classes and events
  • Demographic information

To ensure equal access to limited, shared, public resources, you will be asked to present official photo ID when registering for a library card. This ensures we issue one card per user, promotes account accuracy and connects transactions with the correct user. Demographic information may be collected so that we can evaluate how well we are equitably serving the full Denver community.

Who Has Access to Your Account?

All library customer records are confidential. Library records may only be disclosed to:

  • Library staff performing job duties.
  • The account owner, upon presentation of their library card or proof of identity. Any person in possession of a physical library card or a library card number, is assumed to be the account holder, or have the permission of the account holder to access the account. Make sure to report lost or stolen cards immediately and only share your card number with people you trust.
  • Law enforcement with a court order or subpoena.

If you forget your library card, you can check out and retrieve account information with a photo ID.

Your hold items will check out only to your library card. If you want a friend or family member to pick up your hold items, be sure to give them your card. You may call your branch library or check My Account online to get detailed information about your holds by providing your library card number.

Someone else may pay your fees, but specific information about your account history will not be disclosed to anyone but you.

Children's records are equally protected. We ask parents to use their child's library card when checking out, renewing or paying fees on items for their child.

Library Materials and Borrowing History

The library does not keep a record of your borrowing history beyond operational requirements, unless you choose to opt-in to saving your Reading History on your online account page. Once you return an item it is removed from your account.

Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology is used to check out library materials, keep a record of the library collection, and secure the collection from theft. RFID tags attached to items only contain the barcode number of the item. No personal library customer or transaction information is stored on the RFID tag.

Data & Network Security

The library is committed to data security and keeping personally identifiable information safe. The library monitors network activity to identify unauthorized attempts to upload or change information or otherwise cause damage. The library operates secure data networks using industry standard security hardware and software protection measures and following recognized Information Security standards and frameworks. Only authorized individuals have access to the information provided by our users.

Public Computers and Wireless Network

The library does not keep a record of your activities on any public computer or on our wireless network. Any record of browsing history and activities on our public computers are removed when you log out. Information about your public computer reservation (library card number, computer number, reservation time, print jobs submitted, and session duration) is purged after 24 hours. No personally identifiable information is collected by the library when you use the library's public wireless network to connect your device to the internet.

Surveillance Cameras

Many of our libraries have surveillance cameras outside and/or inside the building, and some Library Security Officers may wear body cameras that can record customer contacts, interviews, and other events when recording could provide value as evidence. Video footage may be stored for up to 21 days.

Release of any surveillance or body camera video footage must be approved by the Security Manager or the Director of Finance, Facilities, and Security. Interior video footage will only be shared as required by law or as necessary for the reasonable operation of the Library. Exterior footage that does not show any library customers or use may be shared at the discretion of the Security Manager or the Director of Finance, Facilities, and Security.

Library Website

What info is collected when you visit the library website?

The information collected by the library’s website could include:

  • URL (uniform resource locator) of the web site you visited previous to the library’s website
  • Domain names and/or IP addresses (numbers automatically assigned to your computer whenever you are connected to the internet)
  • The browser version you are using to access the web site
  • Hardware and software type and language
  • Cookie data
  • Date and time of requests
  • Demographic data Interaction data
  • Page Views, click data, and navigation flow

IP Anonymization is enabled on all site tracking software on our sites, including our catalog. We also have installed and configured software on our websites that supports the DoNotTrack feature available in most modern web browsers. This protects our customers as library records are not being passed by the software.

HTTPS

The library’s websites are encrypted with HTTPS. All communications between your browser and the library website are private. Your account and catalog searching is also encrypted.

Cookies

Some library applications use small files called “cookies.” A cookie is created by a website and saved by your browser each time a site is visited. Cookies are stored on your computer and can transmit personal information. Cookies are used to remember information about preferences and customization on the pages you visit. You can refuse to accept cookies, disable cookies, and remove cookies from your hard drive by following the instructions provided by your browser. Some third-party services may not work if cookies are disabled.

Non-library Websites

Non-library websites may be linked through the library's website and may not follow the same privacy policies as the library. Visitors to such sites are advised to check the privacy statements of such sites and to be cautious about providing personally identifiable information without a clear understanding of how the information will be used.

3rd Party Vendors

Some online services offered by the library are serviced by third-party vendors. These vendors have their own privacy policies and terms of service and they are not beholden to the library’s privacy policies or terms of service.

The library works with third-party vendors to provide online learning, digital collections, streaming media content, analytics, and more. When you leave the library website, your interaction with these systems will be governed by their individual privacy policies. Some of these vendors may collect and share information you provide to them or require you to create a personal account in order to use their services. Check the vendor’s privacy statement and terms of service to learn more about how your data is tracked, stored, and used by them.

Last Updated October 21, 2021.