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Kresge Library - A teaching library with an oustanding student-centered information literacy program
Michigan Library Privacy Act

The Library Privacy Act (Act 455 of 1983) helps assure the privacy of all library users. Only selected sections of the act are listed here in order to clarify this library's responsibility.

397.602 Definitions.
Sec. 2.
(i) "Library record" means a document, record, or other method of storing information retained by a library that contains information that personally identifies a library patron, including the patron's name, address, or telephone number, or that identifies a person as having requested or obtained specific materials from a library. Library record does not include nonidentifying material that may be retained for the purpose of studying or evaluating the circulation of library materials in general.

397.603 Library record not subject to disclosure requirements; release or disclosure of library record without consent prohibited; exception; procedure and form of written consent; hearing.
Sec. 3.
(2) Unless ordered by a court after giving the affected library notice of the request and an opportunity to be heard on the request, a library or an employee or agent of a library shall not release or disclose a library record or portion of a library record to a person without the written consent of the person liable for payment for or return of the materials identified in that library record.
(3) The procedure and form of giving written consent described in subsection (2) may be determined by the library.

What does it mean in the Kresge Library?
To comply with this law, Kresge Library faculty and staff cannot, without the written consent of the individual whose privacy is at issue, tell one patron what library materials another patron has borrowed, nor can they reveal who has requested specific books or other materials, including materials requested through interlibrary loan.
For interlibrary loan purpose the written consent is established by setting up "Authorized Users" in ILLiad.

Interlibrary Loan office hours are Monday to Friday, 8:00am to 5:00pm. The staff is available by phone
248-370-2132 or click here to email Interlibrary Loan during those hours.