Re: [IUG] E-mail marketing using the Millennium patron database

["Hahn, Harvey" <hhahn at ahml dot info>]

Heather Parker wrote:
|I just was following up and wanted to know what you ended up doing?
|________________________________________
|Barbara Storch wrote:
|We are considering using e-mail marketing software that would enable us
|to send out our newsletter and other communications.  Has anyone
|implemented this type of software, using an exported Millennium patron
|database?

A thought: people register as patrons so that they may borrow materials
from a library's collection or use information resources, such as
electronic databases, all of which are patron-paid (e.g., by property
taxes).  That patron information is only what's necessary to carry out
the library's business of loaning materials (including lost/overdue
financial considerations) or accessing electronic information, and is
normally protected by state laws so that it can't be used outside of
those parameters.  Wouldn't the suggested use of that information above
not only possibly violate state law but also violate a patron's privacy?
I think privacy-related services might be permissible only if individual
patrons have *opted in* to permit the library to use their personal
information for other (i.e., noncirculation) purposes.  Perhaps other
people have thoughts to share, too??

Harvey
 
--
===========================================
Harvey E. Hahn, Manager, Technical Services Department
Arlington Heights (Illinois) Memorial Library
847/506-2644 - FX: 847/506-2650 - Email: hhahn(at)ahml(dot)info
OML & Scripts web pages: http://www.ahml.info/oml/
Personal web pages: http://users.anet.com/~packrat