Privacy and Confidentiality

Worcester County Library is committed to user confidentiality. The Library protects its users' privacy by keeping information about materials they check out and information they access confidential, as required by law. All employees, volunteers, and Board of Library Trustee members must comply with all laws governing confidentiality of information, records and transactions, including the provisions of § 23-107 of the Code, and the Maryland Public Information Act, State Government Article, Annotated Code of Maryland, § 10-611, et seq. Borrowers’ records are excluded from disclosure under the Maryland Freedom of Information Act (ST GOV § 10-616e) unless otherwise provided by the 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.

Library staff will provide information about a borrower’s record only to the card holder. To safeguard privacy, customers who request information by telephone may be asked to provide card number and name. Other information such as birth date, address, and telephone number may also be requested.

Staff can provide parents and guardians who are checking out their child’s library card:

  • A list of titles just borrowed;
  • Information on the number and types of materials charged; and
  • Information about fines on their child’s account.

Customers may manage accounts on the library website, https://worcesterlibrary.org from the “Member Login” link. The library does not sell, lease, or otherwise distribute or disclose names, postal addresses, email addresses, phone numbers or other personal information for non-library purposes to outside parties unless required by law.

All employee home addresses and phone numbers will be kept in the strictest confidence and will not be given without the express permission of the employee. Employee schedules will generally remain confidential; with an allowance for customer service needs to be met. Equally, the library will not disclose the home addresses and phone numbers of program presenters and guest speakers without permission.

Approved by the Library Board of Trustees; December 9, 2014