Date: Friday, May 22, 2026
Time: 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM
Place: Online at https://nyslibrary.libcal.com/event/16662098?hs=a
Libraries have always been places where people can think freely, ask hard questions, and explore ideas without explanation or apology. Confidentiality of library records is the legal and ethical foundation that makes that freedom possible. New York’s updated minimum standards now require every library to have a written policy in place, and this session is an opportunity to build one worthy of the trust your community places in you.
Having a policy on paper is a starting point, not a finish line. This session examines what patron confidentiality actually requires in practice, where libraries commonly fall short, and how to build a policy that holds up when it is tested.
This session will address the gap between written policy and operational practice. What do staff need to know? How should a library respond when law enforcement or a family member asks for patron information? What does sound response protocol actually look like?
Libraries are among the last institutions in public life that still hold the line on privacy as a core value. This session will help you do that work with confidence.
This is a working session. Attendees will leave with a clear picture of where their current policy may have gaps and concrete steps to address them.
Intended audience: Library directors, trustees, and staff with responsibility for policy development or patron services.
Ron Kirsop is the Executive Director of OWWL Library System, a cooperative library system serving Ontario, Wayne, Wyoming, and Livingston Counties in western New York. He works directly with member libraries on governance, compliance, policy development, and operational support.
This public program is offered by the New York State Library and made possible by federal Library Service and Technology Act funds from the Institute of Museum and Library Services, which enable the New York State Library to champion lifelong learning.