Q. Does the library keep the personal information I provide to get a library card private?

The Library scrupulously follows California state law as it pertains to the confidentiality of patron information. The text of the law is as follows:

Sec. 6255. Basis for withholding records from inspection.

The agency shall justify withholding any record by demonstrating that the record in question is exempt under express provisions of this chapter or that on the facts of the particular case the public interest served by not making the record public clearly outweighs the public interest served by disclosure of the record.

Sec. 6267. Registration and circulation records of libraries supported by public funds.

All registration and circulation records of any library that is in whole or in part supported by public funds shall remain confidential and shall not be disclosed to any person, local agency, or state agency except as follows:

1. By a person acting within the scope of his or her duties within the administration of the library.
2. By a person authorized, in writing, by the individual to whom the records pertain, to inspect the records.
3. By order of the appropriate superior court.

As used in this section, the term "registration records" includes any information which a library requires a patron to provide in order to become eligible to borrow books and other materials, and the term "circulation records" includes any information which identifies the patrons borrowing particular books and other material.

This section shall not apply to statistical reports of registration and circulation nor to records of fines collected by the library.