“Records managers, archivists, and documents librarians everywhere will agree that this important guide is a most useful addition to their professional collections.”–
“Shirley A. Wiegand's book is much more than one that merely compares the breadth of the various states' open records and confidentiality status. Her commentary raises several complex issues for the library historian, the individual library administrator, and the library profession generally. Weigand's analysis of the need to preserve library transaction records and the possibilities for abuses, in any event, is detailed and thought provoking on many level.”–
Product Description
Most librarians are unaware of the laws governing the retention of library records. In addition, librarians often assume that state confidentiality laws offer more protection than they, in fact, do. The proper management of library records is an important legal issue for all librarians. This professional reference work outlines laws regarding the retention and confidentiality of library records. Part I explains why some library records should be saved and not routinely discarded. It also explains why public record retention laws apply to library records, and it then examines the variety of laws state by state. Part II discusses the need for strong confidentiality laws and traces the evolution of current laws. It then examines the current status of state confidentiality laws and demonstrates their weaknesses. While librarians often believe that "confidential" records are "privileged" and may be destroyed at will, this book clearly explains that this is not the case.
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