{"id":505495,"date":"2026-03-02T11:08:28","date_gmt":"2026-03-02T16:08:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gcc.mass.edu\/library\/?page_id=505495"},"modified":"2026-03-02T11:08:28","modified_gmt":"2026-03-02T16:08:28","slug":"privacy","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.gcc.mass.edu\/library\/about\/policies\/privacy\/","title":{"rendered":"Library Privacy Policy"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Nahman-Watson Library protects patrons' privacy to the fullest extent of the law (Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 78 \u00a7 7) and the Federal Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA). The American Library Association's Code of Ethics states: \"We protect each library user's right to privacy and confidentiality with respect to information sought or received and resources consulted, borrowed, acquired, or transmitted.\"<\/p>\n

1. Registration and Personal Information<\/h2>\n

Personally identifiable information (PII) is information about you that can be used to identify you. We collect PII when registering you for a library card (automatically or manually), when you check out materials, and when you access your library card account. We may also ask for personal information as we try to find resources for you or answer your questions. In the latter case, providing personal information is voluntary.<\/p>\n

2. Library Card Account Information<\/h2>\n

You will need a library card to check out books, DVDs, technology, or other materials, or to access online resources from off-campus. The PII we use to create and maintain your library card account is your chosen first and legal last name, mailing address, phone number, email address, and in the case of students, your student ID number.<\/p>\n

This information may be automatically ingested into the library's systems through the college's student registration system, or may be collected directly from you. We use the PII you provide to us to respond to questions from you and to give you information about the status of your account, including holds and bills. We will never sell your information or use the PII in your library card account for marketing purposes.<\/p>\n

The library is a member of the CW MARS network. Because we're part of a network, the contact information in your account is visible to staff at the more than 140 CW MARS member libraries. We do not reveal your library card account information to anyone but you, except in the following circumstances:<\/p>\n