State Privacy Laws Regarding Library Records

Forty-eight states and the District of Columbia have laws protecting the confidentiality of library records. Two states, Kentucky and Hawaii, have attorney generals' opinions protecting library users' privacy. The language of these provisions vary from state to state. The majority of these laws declare that a library user's records and information are confidential, and not subject to disclosure, unless certain conditions are met, such as a user's consent or the service of a court order. The ALA recommends that each library adopt a policy that acknowledges the state library confidentiality provisions and recognizes the confidentiality of information sought or received from library users, including a user's personally identifiable information. The policy should also recognize the confidentiality of any records or electronic data that disclose the materials consulted, borrowed, or acquired by a library user. Materials subject to privacy and confidentiality restrictions may include online search histories, database search records, ILS records or other circulation records, interlibrary loan records, and all other personally identifiable uses of library materials, facilities, programs or services, such as reference interviews.

Libraries should have in place procedures for working with law enforcement officers when a subpoena or other legal order for records is made. Any disclosure of records to law enforcement or other government agencies should only be done in accordance with library policy and the law. See How to Respond to Law Enforcement Requests for Library Records and User Information: Suggested Guidelines for more detailed information on how to respond to law enforcement requests for user information.

Below are the links to the state privacy laws regarding library records:

• Alabama § 41-8-10
• Alaska § 40.25.140. Confidentiality of library records
• Arizona § 41-151.22, Privacy of User Records
• Arkansas Confidentiality of Library Records
  • § 13-2-701. Definitions
  • § 13-2-701. Violations, Penalties
  • § 13-2-703. Prohibitions
  • § 13-2-704. Disclosure Permitted
  • § 13-2-705. Construction: Aggregate Statistics
  • § 13-2-706. Evidentiary Use
• California
  • § 6267. Registration and circulation records of library supported by public funds
  • § 6254. Records exempt from disclosure requirements - Paragraph J
• Colorado § 24-90-119: Privacy of user records
• Connecticut § 11-25: Reports by libraries. Confidentiality of records
• Delaware Code § 10002 Paragraph (l)12)
• District of Columbia § 39-108: Confidentiality of circulation records
• Florida Statutes § 257.261. Library registration and circulation records
• Georgia Code § 24-12-30
• Hawaii Opinion Letter No. 90-30: Circulation Records of Library Patrons (Scroll for full opinion)
• Idaho
  • § 74-108. Exemptions from disclosure-libraries - Paragraph 4
  • § 74-120. Prohibition on distribution or sale of mailing or telephone number lists--Penalty
• Illinois 75 ILCS §70/1. Library Records Confidentiality Act
• Indiana Code § 5-14-3-4 - Paragraph (b)(16)
• Iowa Code § 22.7 - Paragraphs 13 and 14
• Kansas Statutes § 45-221 - Paragraphs 7 and 23
• Kentucky Opinions of the Attorney General OAG 82-149 and OAG 81-159
• Louisiana 44 La. Rev. Stat.§13
• Maine 27 M.R.S. §121. Confidentiality of library records
• Maryland
  • Maryland Code, General Provisions § 4-308
  • Maryland Code, Education § 23-108
• Massachusetts General Laws Ch. 78, §7
• Michigan Library Privacy Act
  • M.C.L. § 397.601
  • M.C.L. § 397.602
  • M.C.L. § 397.603
  • M.C.L. § 397.604
  • M.C.L. § 397.605
  • M.C.L. § 397.606
  • M.C.L. § 445.1712
• Minnesota Statutes § 13.40. Library and historical data
• Mississippi
  • Mississippi Code § 39-3-365. Library user records confidential
  • Mississippi Code § 39-3-367. Aggregate statistics;  release and use
  • Mississippi Code § 39-3-369. Collecting overdue material and fines
• Missouri
  • Mo. Rev. Stat. § 182.815. Disclosure of library records, definitions
  • Mo. Rev. Stat. § 182.817. Disclosure of library records not required--exceptions--privacy complaints
• Montana Library Records Confidentiality Act
  • Montana § 22-1-1101 Title
  • Montana § 22-1-1102. Definitions
  • Montana § 22-1-1103. Nondisclosure of library records
  • Montana § 22-1-1111. Penalty
• Nebraska Rev. Stat. § 84-712.05 - Paragraphs 1 and 11
• Nevada Rev. Stat. § 239.013. Confidentiality of records of library which identify user with property used
• New Hampshire
  • New Hampshire Rev Stat § 91-A:5 - Paragraphs 3 and 4
  • New Hampshire Rev Stat § 201-D:11
• New Jersey
  • New Jersey Stat § 73-43.1
  • New Jersey Stat.§ 73-43.2
• New Mexico Library Privacy Act
  • New Mexico Stat.§ 18-9-1. Title
  • New Mexico Stat. § 18-9-2. Purpose
  • New Mexico § 18-9-3. Definitions
  • New Mexico § 18-9-4. Release of patron records prohibited
  • New Mexico § 18-9-5. Exceptions
  • New Mexico § 18-9-6. Violations;  civil liability
• New York CPLR § 4509 Library Records
• North Carolina
  • North Carolina Stat. § 125-18. Definitions
  • North Carolina Stat. 125-19. Confidentiality of library user records
• North Dakota Code § 40-38-12 Library records--Open records exception
• Ohio Rev. Code § 149.432
• Oklahoma 65 Ok.Stat § 65-1-105
• Oregon Rev. Statutes § 192.502 - Paragraphs 4 and 23
• Pennsylvania 24 Pa.C.S.A. § 9375. Privacy of circulation records
• Rhode Island
  • Rhode Island § 11-18-32. Video, audio and publication rentals
  • Rhode Island § 38-2-2 Access to Public Records - Paragraph U
• South Carolina - Confidentiality of Library Records
  • SC Code § 60-4-10 Records identifying library patrons as confidential information; disclosure
  • SC Code § 60-4-20 Definitions
  • SC Code § 60-4-30 Penalties
• South Dakota §14-2-51 Confidentiality of Library Records
• Tennessee Confidentiality of Library Records
  • Tennessee Code § 10-8-101
  • Tennessee Code § 10-8-102
  • Tennessee Code § 10-8-103
• Texas Gov. Code § 552.124.  Confidentiality of Records of Library or Library System
• Utah
  • Utah Code § 63G-2-302 Private records - Paragraph (1)(c)
  • Utah Code § 63G-2-202 Access to private, controlled, and protected documents
• Vermont Library Patron Records
  • 22 VSA § 171 Definitions
  • 22 VSA § 172 Library record confidentiality;  exemptions
  • 22 VSA § 173 Right of Patron Action
• Virginia Code § 2.2-3705.7. Records of specific public bodies and certain other limited exclusions - Paragraph 3
• Washington Rev. Code § 42.56.310. Library records
• West Virginia Code § 10-1-22. Confidential nature of certain library records
• Wisconsin Statutes § 43.30. Public library records
• Wyoming Statutes § 16-4-203 Right of inspection;  grounds for denial;  exceptions - Paragraph (d)(ix)

Updated November 2021

Updates to state privacy laws can be sent to Deborah Caldwell Stone, Director of the Office of Intellectual Freedom.