Privacy Statement
At Thunder Bay Public Library, we strive for the highest level of customer service in all areas of the library, including our Web site www.tbpl.ca. When you visit our site, some personal information is collected and used to provide better and more convenient service.
This privacy statement describes what happens when you visit and use our Web site. This statement abides by the privacy guidelines outlined in the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (MFIPPA).
Collecting Personal Information
Some services on our site ask you to fill out a form with personal information. For example, My Picks, when this function is available in the future, is an e-mail service that automatically informs you of new books, videos, DVDs and other material. When you register for this service, we store your preferences, e mail address, name, phone number, and library card, in a database. You will be able to unsubscribe from the My Picks service at any time at which time your record is deleted from the My Picks database.
Other areas of the site that ask you to submit personal information include Just Ask Us e-mail reference, Library Card Application, and the Purchase Suggestion Form. Services that require you to submit personal information through a form are optional and require your explicit consent.
Our site will also feature software in the future that allows you to Register for Library Programs and to Book a Library Computer online. For example, when you register for a library program through our Web site, your name, contact information, and the program description is recorded in our database. This allows us to verify and secure your spot in the program.
Disclosure of Personal Information
We will not sell, rent, or otherwise make available personal information that we have collected about you to outside parties. We may disclose personally identifying information in response to a subpoena, court order or a specific request from a law enforcement agency to assist in an investigation, or as required by law. As a public body, we abide by the privacy guidelines outlined in the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (MFIPPA).
Log In and Log Off
The log in box on our Web site asks for your library card and PIN. This information is stored in a cookie and saved on your hard drive for the duration of your visit. The cookie is deleted when you log off unless you have selected Remember Me, which stores your log in information so you do not have to log in during subsequent visits. Remember Me is optional and can be turned on or off.
Although logging in is not required in order to use the Web site, it is necessary if you want to check your loans, to renew items, to place holds, or to conduct research using any of our subscription databases from home or from work.
The log in feature also makes the site more convenient. For example, when you are logged on and you use the Just Ask Us e-mail Reference form, your name, phone number and e-mail address are pre-filled for your convenience. Other forms on the site that require your name and contact information are also pre-filled.
Web Log
When you visit the Library's Web site, the Web server automatically logs and stores the date and time of your visit; the IP address assigned to your computer; the type and version of the browser you use; the operating system on your computer; and the Web address of the site that referred you to our site. This information is kept for statistical purposes to improve Web services.
External links
Our Web site contains links to external sites not maintained by Thunder Bay Public Library. We are not responsible for the content of external sites or for your privacy when you disclose information to other Web sites.
Security
All online transactions involving sensitive information, such as your credit/debit card number, are conducted using a SSL (Secure Socket Layer) protocol connection. This connection provides increased security to the information as it is transmitted to our Web site.
Changes
Any significant changes to this privacy statement will be highlighted on the Web site prior to the change taking effect, to allow time for feedback and comments from the community.
Privacy in Other Library Service Areas
This statement covers privacy on the Thunder Bay Public Library Web site. Privacy statements for other areas, such as circulation information, are being developed and will be posted as soon as they are complete.
If you have questions or comments about this statement, please contact our Chief Librarian.
Last updated: August 23rd, 2006
