Re: Patriot Act

[Martha Driscoll <driscoll@xxxxxxxxxx>]

The discussion, as I remember it, was not so much about retaining more
information, but in understanding the information that is currently being
retained on the system.  We have never stored the last patron info in the
item record because of our confidentiality policy.  But after thinking
about this topic and reading the posts from others, we now realize that of
course our backup tapes contain this information, and if anyone downloaded
a review file of overdue items, then that information could still be
sitting on a PC somewhere even after the material has been returned.

I think it is important to understand what information you do have and to
protect it as much as possible. It may be necessary to change your
policies or reconfigure the system so it does not retain historical
checkout information.  I really don't agree with decreasing the number of
backups, which I think someone suggested.  A good backup policy to protect
against disasters really shouldn't be messed with, even in light of the
Patriot Act.  Imagine if the system were destroyed and you had no good
backups.

Martha Driscoll, Systems Manager
North of Boston Library Exchange (NOBLE)
driscoll@xxxxxxxxxx
Ph: 978-777-8844  Fax: 978-750-8472

----------
On Thu, 19 Dec 2002, Mark Cesare wrote:

> There has been some discussion about the Patriot Act and where past
> circulation records reside in an III system and how to access these
> records. Additionally, there has been mention of saving information that
> was not saved before. Why?
> 
> Maybe I'm missing something and maybe someone out there can provide
> better understanding.
> 
> The Patriot Act, as I read it, is all about disclosure of information
> (without due process). If the information simply does not exist, then it
> cannot be disclosed. The Act gives government agencies access to
> transaction records that exist, but does not mandate the creation or
> archiving of these records if they no not exist -- for Libraries or any
> other business.
> 
> Mark Cesare, Support Systems Analyst
> Northern Arizona University ~ Cline Library / Technology Services
> P.O. Box 6022 ~ Flagstaff, AZ ~ 86011
> e-mail:   Mark.Cesare@xxxxxxxxxx
> phone:   (928) 523-2330
>     fax:    (928) 523-3770 -- This message was distributed through the
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