Privacy Policy

We collect different types of “Personal Information” from you in order to facilitate the proper operation of the Library and better deliver Library Services to you. “Personal Information” that we may request and/or maintain is identifiable as being about you. We may collect the following types of Personal Information from you: name, physical and/or mailing address(es), phone number(s) (including wireless carrier), email address(es), sex, birthdate, proof of residency (e.g., copies of driver’s license, school ID, military ID and/or corresponding ID numbers associated with such forms of identification), Library-issued barcode numbers, self-selected PIN numbers chosen by you for access to various Library Services, information from inquiries you have made, and/or communications between you and Library personnel. 

We may collect different types of information from you depending on your chosen level of engagement with the Library, the manner in which you interact with the Library and as such information is needed in order to provide you with access to those services.

We collect personal information from you in a variety of ways, including: when you interact with us electronically or in person; when you access our website; and when we provide our services to you. 

1. User-Provided Information.

When you register for a library card, participate in Library sponsored programming and/or use an electronic account for our Library Services, we may ask you to share certain information with us. If you register with us in person or electronically, you can request to review and, when practical, to update, change or delete information you have provided to us. You can do this by logging into your registered user account at our website (https://catalog.bcls.lib.nj.us/) or you can ask our staff to assist you by visiting a Library location and speaking to our staff. If you deactivate your registered user account, you may not be able to continue using certain Library Services that require registration. 

The following are examples of information you might be asked to provide to us and/or which we may necessarily maintain in the provision of Library Services to you: 

• Personal Information: any information that can personally identify you, such as your name, physical address, email address, phone number, Library barcode, payment information, and other similar information.
• Residency Verification: information such as driver’s license, other government issued identification, and utility bills containing a postal address.
• Shared Content: includes anything created by you that you choose to make public by using our Library services. Your registered user account and any information you have chosen to display may accompany your shared content.
• Social Media Information: includes the option of using your social media accounts and posting content on our social media pages, our crowdsourcing sites, or elsewhere on the internet, and such information you allow to be shared with us.
• Log-in Credentials: includes username, password, and a set of personal questions about you and are provided as part of the process to create an online user account, which allows you to view your Library records at any time by logging into your account.
• Library Record: contains your Personal Information related to your personal use of circulating and non-circulating Library materials, including but not limited to computer database searches, interlibrary-loan transactions, reference queries, e-mails, faxes, requests for photocopies of Library materials, title reserve requests, and the use of audio-visual materials such as films and music. 

We are committed to keeping such information, outlined in all the examples above, only as long as needed in order to provide Library Services. 

2. Information BCLS Automatically Collects.

When you use our Library Services, such as our website and mobile applications, our computer servers automatically capture and save information electronically about your usage of our Library Services.  

Examples of information that we may collect include:

• Your Internet Protocol (IP) address
• Your location
• Kind of web browser or electronic device that you use
• Date and time of your visit
• Website that you visited immediately before arriving at our website
• Pages that you viewed on our website
• Certain searches/queries that you conducted 

If you are using a Library device, we may also record your Library barcode, time and length of your session, and the websites that you visited. If you are using our public Wi-Fi network, we may, in addition, also collect the MAC address and name of your Wi-Fi device.

3. Cookies.

A cookie is a small data file sent from your web browser to a web server and stored on your electronic device’s hard drive. It is generated by websites to provide users with a personalized and often simplified online experience. You have the option of disabling such cookies if you choose not to allow their use. If you prefer, you can usually remove or reject browser cookies through the settings on your browser or device. Most web browsers are set to accept cookies by default. Keep in mind, though, that removing or rejecting cookies could affect the availability and functionality of our Library Services. You should be aware that information collected about you through any of the above means may be de-identified and aggregated with information collected about other users, visitors or donors. This de-identified and aggregated information cannot be used to reasonably identify you. This information helps us to administer services, analyze usage, provide security and identify new users of our Library Services. In addition, it helps us to improve your user experience.

We use your information to provide Library Services to you, to make improvements to such services and to notify you of opportunities about Library Services, events and programing we think might be of interest to you. 

We do not provide your information to third parties, with the possible exception of third-party library service providers the Library engages to help deliver some of our services to you. We may share your information with these third parties, but only as necessary for them to provide services to BCLS. We may also display links to third-party services or content. By following links, you may be providing information (including, but not limited to Personal Information) directly to a third party, to us, or to both. You acknowledge and agree that BCLS is not responsible for how those third parties collect or use your information. Third parties must either agree to adhere to strict confidentiality obligations in a way that is consistent with this Privacy Policy and the agreements we enter into with them or we require them to post their own privacy policy. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of every third-party website or service that you visit or use, including those third parties with whom you interact with through our Library Services. 

The library will do all within its power to protect each user’s right to privacy with respect to all information required for registration and for information sought or received, and materials consulted, borrowed or acquired. Such records will not be made available to any individual, organization or government agency except pursuant to N.J.S.A. 18A:73-43.2, which states: Library records which contain the names or other personally identifying details regarding the users of libraries are confidential and shall not be disclosed except in the following circumstances: 

• The records are necessary for the proper operation of the library;
• Disclosure is requested by the user; or
• Disclosure is required pursuant to a subpoena issued by a court or court order. L.1985, c 172, s. 2, eff. May 31, 1985. 

NOTE: New Jersey Open Public Records Act does not supersede N.J.S.A. 18A:73-43.2. User-Provided Information kept by the Burlington County Library System shall not be made available to any third party, except as noted above in regards to third-party library service providers the Library engages to help deliver services, nor any law enforcement agency of a local, state, or federal government except when disclosure is requested or authorized (preferably in writing) by the affected library user, or when the appropriate legal document -- subpoena, search warrant, DCP&P (Division of Child Protection and Permanency) request, National Security Letter, or Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court Order -- has been presented to the library by the law enforcement agency or person seeking the records. 

• When a request for library records or information about a library user is made at the Burlington County Library (BCL), the Library Director takes responsibility for handling the Request.
• When a request is made at a Branch Library, the Branch Manager takes responsibility for handling the request and works with the Library Director to respond to the request.
• When the Director/Branch Manager is unavailable, the “Person-in-Charge” (PIC) for that location, takes responsibility. 

No library employee or volunteer may release library records, or reveal information about a library user to any third party or law enforcement agent unless authorized to do so by the Director upon advice from the Library’s counsel. 

Security of your personal information

We take reasonable steps to protect your personal information. However, we are not liable for any unauthorized access to this information. 

Concerns about privacy

If you have any concerns about our privacy practices, please feel free to contact us and offer your detailed input. We welcome feedback from the public and take all complaints seriously. We will respond as soon as possible.