The Library is committed to protecting the privacy and confidentiality of all patron data in compliance with federal and state laws, college policy, and professional standards (e.g. American Library Association).
Library data is considered an institutional asset and may be accessed and used only by authorized college employees according to procedures identified by the college. No person or entity may access library data, except through strict policy and processes established by the college, and in compliance with Iowa and Federal law.
We also comply with Loras College Institutional Review Board policies and with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), the Federal law that governs release of and access to student education records.
In-House Library Systems
When you use library applications, systems, and websites, you generate data. We use and store these data to provide and improve services and resources. There is no personally identifying information publicly available. Any published data will be in aggregate form or otherwise stripped of identifying information. The data is stored on secure servers administered by Loras College Library and IT staff.
Our length of data retention depends on the data and how we are using it. Some data will be kept indefinitely, other data is stored and used for shorter periods. We only keep data as long as it is useful for the services we provide.
Data We Collect
The Loras College Library may collect data about your library use in order to improve services and to integrate with broader teaching and learning initiatives, such as
• Databases and online resource usage,
• Check outs (books, DVDs, etc.) including interlibrary loan requests,
• Chat, in-person, and email research help service, and scheduled consultations with library staff,
• Library instruction session attendance,
• Event attendance and registration,
• Library website usage.
Third Party Vendors
The Library does license services and/or content from third party vendors who have their own privacy policies and confidentiality practices. When you leave the library website, your interaction with these systems will be governed by their individual privacy policies. Check the privacy statements for specific vendors to learn how your data is stored and used by them.
Many of our vendors also use cookies to understand usage of their services. You can use the security settings in your browser to control what cookies are saved and how long they are stored. To find out how to delete cookies, search for [browser name] + delete cookies to find instructions.
For more information on this policy, please contact askalibrarian@loras.edu.
Google and Your Privacy
Loras College also uses Google Analytics (including the use of demographics and interest reports), a web analytics service provided by Google, Inc. (“Google”) to help understand how college websites are being used and to improve our interface and services. Google Analytics operates through the use of a cookie, which is a text file placed on your computer that contains information about your use of college websites. The information stored in the cookie (including your IP address) is transmitted to and stored by Google.
Loras College uses this information for analytical and feature-improvement related purposes only. We do not transmit any information to other third parties.
If you choose, you can opt out of Google tracking by using one of the following methods:
• Use the Google Analytics opt-out browser add-on http://tools.google.com/gaoptout; for Google’s privacy policy please visit http://www.google.com/intl/en/privacy.html
• Use the NAI consumer opt-out tools
• User/browser-based tracking plug-ins to block tracking code
Library Privacy Statement updated October 2020.