Law for Librarians: Privacy
November 5, 2025 @ 4:00 – 5:30 PM
Presented by the American Library Association.
Preserving the right to privacy in the library – the right to read, consider and develop ideas and beliefs free from any surveillance or unwanted interference by the government or others – relies upon an understanding of the laws that govern individual privacy rights both in the library and in the wider world.
This session will cover the law of privacy related to patrons’ use of the library. Topics will include the legal foundations for patron privacy rights, privacy policy development, dealing with law enforcement requests for patron information, and the rapidly evolving statutory and regulatory environment regarding digital data and online information.