Reference Email Privacy and Confidentiality
Cornell University Library respects the privacy of its patrons and protects their confidentiality according to CUL guidelines: http://campusgw.library.cornell.edu/about/policyConfidentiality.html
Our online privacy policy is intended to let patrons know what information is collected by our email reference service and how it is used.
Olin/Uris Reference keeps a staff-use-only database of email reference questions. The database retains no identifying personal information in the long-term; names and email addresses are automatically erased after 30 days and only the content of the email is retained. Some e-mail with identifying information may be retained temporarily so that reference staff may refer to earlier information when answering ongoing reference questions.
The staff-use-only database is used to analyze the amount and types of questions we are being asked. This helps us to provide better service to all patrons. The database may be used to compile statistics about reference email usage and for research to help improve reference service. Excerpts from emails may be used for reports or publications. Personal information (e.g., email, names, phone numbers, etc.) that might be included in the body of an email is not shared outside of the CUL library system.
Please be aware that CIT (Cornell Information Technologies) maintains the servers through which all email flows. CIT's policies and procedures for online privacy can be found at: http://www.cit.cornell.edu/oit/policy/privacy/data_access.html and http://www.cit.cornell.edu/oit/PatriotAct/
To have your email deleted from our staff-use-only database, please email:
vac11@cornell.edu.
Olin and Uris Libraries, Cornell University, Ithaca NY 14853
Information and reference: 607-255-4144, okuref@cornell.edu
Circulation: (Olin) 607-255-4245, (Uris) 607-255-3537, olincirc@cornell.edu