This is a message from CTLS-L. Selecting "Reply" will send a message to the originator. Selecting "Reply to All" will send a message to the entire list. ---------------------------------------------------------
We do
not have any volunteers doing circulation duties, partially because of the long
training period required with the automation system, and partially because of
privacy concerns. However, I do understand that there are libraries where you
have no choice but to use volunteers to keep the library going. I do think you
would want to make training about confidentiality part of your volunteer
training and use only your most trusted volunteers for sensistive
duties.
I
don't think having an overdue is enough to negate a person's right to privacy.
And, confidentiality doesn't just extend to what's overdue, but to what has been
put on hold or checked out. The classic example is the woman who is checking out
books on divorce before her husband knows she is considering divorce. The
library should not be the one breaking the news to him!
In the
case you are mentioning of searching the shelves for overdue books, is there a
way to give them a list of the books without the patron's name
attached?
Hope
this helps.
Judy
Judy Duer
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Temple (TX) Public
Library
100 W. Adams
Ave.
Temple
TX 76501
(254) 298-5707
(254) 298-5328 (fax)
-----Original Message-----
From: Sue Lilley [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Sent: Friday, April 21, 2006 8:32 AM
To: 'ctls-l'
Subject: Volunteer's dutiesThis is a message from CTLS-L. Selecting "Reply" will send a message to the originator. Selecting "Reply to All" will send a message to the entire list. ---------------------------------------------------------Here at Lampasas we rely heavily on volunteers to do desk clerk duties among other things. Yesterday, someone expressed a concern about having volunteers see overdue lists and having them check the shelves for those items. They were concerned about privacy issues. This person comes from a school background where staff has to be extremely careful of disclosing or even acknowledging anything about a student. Do you have volunteers perform these kinds of duties? I was under the impression that people with overdue items had lost their right to such privacy. Please offer advice on this matter.Sue LilleyLampasas Public Library
