Privacy Policy

Washington County Free Library is committed to protecting the privacy of our users. We sometimes collect personal information from our users. This policy explains what information we collect, why we collect it, what we do with it and what you can do about it.

Collection of Personal Information

Washington County Free Library maintains the confidentiality, security and integrity of personal information that we obtain from our users. We do not disclose personal information to any party.

Our site uses order forms and registration forms for users to request information, products, and services. We collect contact information (like users' email addresses, names, telephone numbers and mailing addresses) and financial information (like account or credit card numbers) through these forms. Contact information from the forms is used to send orders to our customers, to send information about our products and services and for the purposes of record keeping.

Confidentiality of Library Registration and Circulation Records

• All borrower records are confidential.  The Washington County Free Library works to assure the confidentiality of library and circulation records in accordance with the Annotated Code of Maryland Education article §23-107:

   

  “. . . this State shall prohibit inspection, use, or disclosure of any circulation record or other item, collection, or grouping of information about an individual that:
     (1) Is maintained by a library;
     (2) Contains an individual's name or the identifying number, symbol, or other identifying particular assigned to the individual; and
     (3) Identifies the use a patron makes of that library's materials, services, or facilities.
  (b) Exceptions. -- A free association, school, college, or university library in the State shall permit inspection, use, or disclosure of the circulation record of an individual only in connection with the library's ordinary business and only for the purposes for which the record was created.”

• Circulation records are excluded from disclosure under the Maryland Freedom of Information Act (§10-616e) unless otherwise provided by law.  The Library requires that law enforcement requests for any library record be in the form of an order issued by a court of competent jurisdiction that shows good cause and is in proper form.
• It is the policy of the Washington County Free Library to allow patrons to access their own records via our automated circulation system.  The confidentiality of the record is protected by the patron not releasing his/her library card number.
• Information regarding library registration, circulation records or other library behavior to anyone other than the person registered or parent, guardian, or other adult with financial and selection responsibility for the child (under 18 y.o.) is prohibited. 
• The library’s automation system allows patrons to check their own records.  Patrons must click the Account link in the Online Patron Access Catalog.  The patron’s library card number and password must be entered in order to open the account record.  It is the responsibility of the patron to keep knowledge of his/her library card number and password secure.
• Patrons have the ability to maintain a list of all materials previously checked out (option can be enabled by the patron in the catalog at My Account/My Record -> Contact Information and Preferences, toggle "Maintain reading history").  This feature is associated with personal data in a patron’s account.  The library will never share this personal data with a third party unless specifically required to do so by a warrant from a law enforcement agency or express permission is given by the patron to do so as indicated in the patron record.

Use of Cookies

Cookies are pieces of information that a web site transfers to an individual's hard drive for record-keeping purposes. The use of cookies is an industry standard; you will find them at most major web sites. Washington County Free Library sometimes uses cookies to store certain information for our customers' convenience and to anticipate their future needs.

Links to Other Sites

You should be aware that when you are on Washington County Free Library's site you could be directed to other sites that are beyond our control. There are links to other sites from our site that take you outside our service. These other sites may send their own cookies to users, or otherwise collect data or solicit personal information. Always be aware of where you end up on the web.

Security

The importance of security for all personally identifiable information associated with our users is of utmost concern to us. We exercise great care in providing secure transmission of our users' financial information from their computers to our servers, utilizing encryption software. Only those employees who need access to our users' information in order to do their jobs are allowed access. Any employee who violates our privacy and/or security policies is subject to disciplinary action, including possible termination and civil and/or criminal prosecution.

Correct or Update Information

If you would like to correct or update information that you have previously provided, you may contact us by sending an email or, calling us at 301.739.3250, or by letter to the following postal address: Washington County Free Library, 100 S Potomac Street, Hagerstown, MD 21740.

Contacting Us

If you have any questions our privacy policy, the practices of this site, or your dealings with this web site, you may contact:

Web Customer Service
Washington County Free Library
100 S. Potomac Street
Hagerstown MD 21740

Contact via email

301.739.3250