Keep your library reading history private
A quick thing you can check today on your library account.
On my library account, the staff can't view what I've been reading.
Even if I press the button to "start recording my reading history," the library staff still won't have access to that information — but police could easily grab hold of it.
On the other hand, if I don't agree have my history recorded, supposedly police will have to go elsewhere to find info on me.
Just an option to think about with your own accounts, at the library and elsewhere.
And if you're a designer of any app or system that handles private data — not only libraries — think of how you can best safeguard privacy or offer options so people can choose for themselves.
My library website says:
The library takes seriously the privacy of your library records. Therefore, we do not keep track of what you borrow after you return it. However, our automated system has a feature called "My Reading History" that allows you to track items you check out. Participation in the feature is entirely voluntary. You may start or stop using it, as well as delete any or all entries in "My Reading History" at any time. If you choose to start recording "My Reading History," you agree to allow our automated system to store this data. The library staff does not have access to your "My Reading History", however, it is subject to all applicable local, state, and federal laws, and under those laws, could be examined by law enforcement authorities without your permission. If this is of concern to you, you should not use the "My Reading History" feature.
