Privacy+Issues

**Privacy and Intellectual Freedom (Managing access to information for our students' rights!)**

** Questions for a new Teacher-Librarian to ponder regarding PRIVACY and INTELLECTUAL FREEDOM: **
 These questions are not easy to answer and vary according to the rules and policies put in place by your school or school division's administration. However, a new Teacher-Librarian needs to make sure they are aware of the privacy protection acts and intellectual freedom laws that govern their province (or state) and how they apply to their particular school library. As noted in the questions above, several issues come to light when discussing privacy and intellectual freedom rights within the four walls of a school library. One of the most important things to remember, is that it is the responsibility of the teacher-librarian to defend the privacy rights of their students and to advocate for their intellectual freedom.
 * Is it a breach of a student's right to privacy and confidentiality to share their reading choices in their overdue notices and posting them in the classroom?
 * If we censor the books we allow in our school libraries, are we respecting our students' intellectual freedom to access information of their choosing?
 * Are students correctly informed of their right to privacy and intellectual freedom?
 * How do privacy issues work in a school library when a teacher-librarian must weigh their role as educator //in loco parentis// and librarian?

As quoted in Riehl's article, **"Confidentiality of library records is a core value of librarianship...Choice requires both a varied selection and the assurance that one’s choice is not monitored."** (American Library Association, 2004)

The Canadian Library Association code of ethic states that CLA members have a responsibility to "protect the privacy and dignity of library users." The Alberta Teachers' Association (ATA) Code of Professional Conduct states that "the teacher may not divulge information about a pupil received in confidence or in the course of professional duties except as required by law or where, in the judgment of the teacher, to do so is in the best interests of the pupil." (Riehl, 2006)

Resources for learning more about privacy and intellectual freedom


 * Riehl, D. (2006). Students' Privacy Rights in School Libraries: Balancing Principles, Ethics and Practices. //School Libraries in Canada (17108535)//, //26//(2), 32-42. Retrieved from Academic Search Complete database. ([])
 * [|When the Censor Comes] - Censorship in Canada (Freedom to Read) as presented by the Canada Council of Arts
 * The **//Freedom of Expression Committee//** at the **//Book and Periodical// Council** has developed a comprehensive website educating about censorship, including a //**Freedom to Read Kit**// available for our libraries: []