CINXE.COM

<!doctype html> <html lang="en-US" prefix="og: http://ogp.me/ns# article: http://ogp.me/ns/article#"> <head> <meta charset="UTF-8"> <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1"> <link rel="profile" href="https://gmpg.org/xfn/11"> <link rel="apple-touch-icon-precomposed" sizes="57x57" href="https://www.library.cornell.edu/wp-content/themes/cul-theme/images/favicon/apple-touch-icon-57x57.png" /> <link rel="apple-touch-icon-precomposed" sizes="114x114" href="https://www.library.cornell.edu/wp-content/themes/cul-theme/images/favicon/apple-touch-icon-114x114.png" /> <link rel="apple-touch-icon-precomposed" sizes="72x72" href="https://www.library.cornell.edu/wp-content/themes/cul-theme/images/favicon/apple-touch-icon-72x72.png" /> <link rel="apple-touch-icon-precomposed" sizes="144x144" href="https://www.library.cornell.edu/wp-content/themes/cul-theme/images/favicon/apple-touch-icon-144x144.png" /> <link rel="apple-touch-icon-precomposed" sizes="60x60" href="https://www.library.cornell.edu/wp-content/themes/cul-theme/images/favicon/apple-touch-icon-60x60.png" /> <link rel="apple-touch-icon-precomposed" sizes="120x120" href="https://www.library.cornell.edu/wp-content/themes/cul-theme/images/favicon/apple-touch-icon-120x120.png" /> <link rel="apple-touch-icon-precomposed" sizes="76x76" href="https://www.library.cornell.edu/wp-content/themes/cul-theme/images/favicon/apple-touch-icon-76x76.png" /> <link rel="apple-touch-icon-precomposed" sizes="152x152" href="https://www.library.cornell.edu/wp-content/themes/cul-theme/images/favicon/apple-touch-icon-152x152.png" /> <link rel="icon" type="image/png" href="https://www.library.cornell.edu/wp-content/themes/cul-theme/images/favicon/favicon-196x196.png" sizes="196x196" /> <link rel="icon" type="image/png" href="https://www.library.cornell.edu/wp-content/themes/cul-theme/images/favicon/favicon-96x96.png" sizes="96x96" /> <link rel="icon" type="image/png" href="https://www.library.cornell.edu/wp-content/themes/cul-theme/images/favicon/favicon-32x32.png" sizes="32x32" /> <link rel="icon" type="image/png" href="https://www.library.cornell.edu/wp-content/themes/cul-theme/images/favicon/favicon-16x16.png" sizes="16x16" /> <link rel="icon" type="image/png" href="https://www.library.cornell.edu/wp-content/themes/cul-theme/images/favicon/favicon-128.png" sizes="128x128" /> <meta name="application-name" content=" " /> <meta name="msapplication-TileColor" content="#FFFFFF" /> <meta name="msapplication-TileImage" content="mstile-144x144.png" /> <meta name="msapplication-square70x70logo" content="mstile-70x70.png" /> <meta name="msapplication-square150x150logo" content="mstile-150x150.png" /> <meta name="msapplication-wide310x150logo" content="mstile-310x150.png" /> <meta name="msapplication-square310x310logo" content="mstile-310x310.png" /> <title>Commitment to Privacy – Cornell University Library</title> <meta name='robots' content='max-image-preview:large' /> <style>img:is([sizes="auto" i], [sizes^="auto," i]) { contain-intrinsic-size: 3000px 1500px }</style> <link rel='dns-prefetch' href='//widgetlogic.org' /> <link rel='dns-prefetch' href='//cdnjs.cloudflare.com' /> <link rel='dns-prefetch' href='//ajax.googleapis.com' /> <link rel='dns-prefetch' href='//use.typekit.net' /> <link rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml" title="Cornell University Library » Feed" href="https://www.library.cornell.edu/feed/" /> <link rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml" title="Cornell University Library » Comments Feed" href="https://www.library.cornell.edu/comments/feed/" />  <script src="//www.googletagmanager.com/gtag/js?id=G-J658M0HB4R" data-cfasync="false" data-wpfc-render="false" async></script> <script data-cfasync="false" data-wpfc-render="false"> var em_version = '8.2.0'; var em_track_user = true; var em_no_track_reason = ''; var ExactMetricsDefaultLocations = {"page_location":"https:\/\/www.library.cornell.edu\/about\/commitment-to-privacy\/"}; if ( typeof ExactMetricsPrivacyGuardFilter === 'function' ) { var ExactMetricsLocations = (typeof ExactMetricsExcludeQuery === 'object') ? ExactMetricsPrivacyGuardFilter( ExactMetricsExcludeQuery ) : ExactMetricsPrivacyGuardFilter( ExactMetricsDefaultLocations ); } else { var ExactMetricsLocations = (typeof ExactMetricsExcludeQuery === 'object') ? ExactMetricsExcludeQuery : ExactMetricsDefaultLocations; } var disableStrs = [ 'ga-disable-G-J658M0HB4R', ]; /* Function to detect opted out users */ function __gtagTrackerIsOptedOut() { for (var index = 0; index < disableStrs.length; index++) { if (document.cookie.indexOf(disableStrs[index] + '=true') > -1) { return true; } } return false; } /* Disable tracking if the opt-out cookie exists. */ if (__gtagTrackerIsOptedOut()) { for (var index = 0; index < disableStrs.length; index++) { window[disableStrs[index]] = true; } } /* Opt-out function */ function __gtagTrackerOptout() { for (var index = 0; index < disableStrs.length; index++) { document.cookie = disableStrs[index] + '=true; expires=Thu, 31 Dec 2099 23:59:59 UTC; path=/'; window[disableStrs[index]] = true; } } if ('undefined' === typeof gaOptout) { function gaOptout() { __gtagTrackerOptout(); } } window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; window.ExactMetricsDualTracker = { helpers: {}, trackers: {}, }; if (em_track_user) { function __gtagDataLayer() { dataLayer.push(arguments); } function __gtagTracker(type, name, parameters) { if (!parameters) { parameters = {}; } if (parameters.send_to) { __gtagDataLayer.apply(null, arguments); return; } if (type === 'event') { parameters.send_to = exactmetrics_frontend.v4_id; var hookName = name; if (typeof parameters['event_category'] !== 'undefined') { hookName = parameters['event_category'] + ':' + name; } if (typeof ExactMetricsDualTracker.trackers[hookName] !== 'undefined') { ExactMetricsDualTracker.trackers[hookName](parameters); } else { __gtagDataLayer('event', name, parameters); } } else { __gtagDataLayer.apply(null, arguments); } } __gtagTracker('js', new Date()); __gtagTracker('set', { 'developer_id.dNDMyYj': true, }); if ( ExactMetricsLocations.page_location ) { __gtagTracker('set', ExactMetricsLocations); } __gtagTracker('config', 'G-J658M0HB4R', {"forceSSL":"true","link_attribution":"true"} ); window.gtag = __gtagTracker; (function () { /* https://developers.google.com/analytics/devguides/collection/analyticsjs/ */ /* ga and __gaTracker compatibility shim. */ var noopfn = function () { return null; }; var newtracker = function () { return new Tracker(); }; var Tracker = function () { return null; }; var p = Tracker.prototype; p.get = noopfn; p.set = noopfn; p.send = function () { var args = Array.prototype.slice.call(arguments); args.unshift('send'); __gaTracker.apply(null, args); }; var __gaTracker = function () { var len = arguments.length; if (len === 0) { return; } var f = arguments[len - 1]; if (typeof f !== 'object' || f === null || typeof f.hitCallback !== 'function') { if ('send' === arguments[0]) { var hitConverted, hitObject = false, action; if ('event' === arguments[1]) { if ('undefined' !== typeof arguments[3]) { hitObject = { 'eventAction': arguments[3], 'eventCategory': arguments[2], 'eventLabel': arguments[4], 'value': arguments[5] ? arguments[5] : 1, } } } if ('pageview' === arguments[1]) { if ('undefined' !== typeof arguments[2]) { hitObject = { 'eventAction': 'page_view', 'page_path': arguments[2], } } } if (typeof arguments[2] === 'object') { hitObject = arguments[2]; } if (typeof arguments[5] === 'object') { Object.assign(hitObject, arguments[5]); } if ('undefined' !== typeof arguments[1].hitType) { hitObject = arguments[1]; if ('pageview' === hitObject.hitType) { hitObject.eventAction = 'page_view'; } } if (hitObject) { action = 'timing' === arguments[1].hitType ? 'timing_complete' : hitObject.eventAction; hitConverted = mapArgs(hitObject); __gtagTracker('event', action, hitConverted); } } return; } function mapArgs(args) { var arg, hit = {}; var gaMap = { 'eventCategory': 'event_category', 'eventAction': 'event_action', 'eventLabel': 'event_label', 'eventValue': 'event_value', 'nonInteraction': 'non_interaction', 'timingCategory': 'event_category', 'timingVar': 'name', 'timingValue': 'value', 'timingLabel': 'event_label', 'page': 'page_path', 'location': 'page_location', 'title': 'page_title', 'referrer' : 'page_referrer', }; for (arg in args) { if (!(!args.hasOwnProperty(arg) || !gaMap.hasOwnProperty(arg))) { hit[gaMap[arg]] = args[arg]; } else { hit[arg] = args[arg]; } } return hit; } try { f.hitCallback(); } catch (ex) { } }; __gaTracker.create = newtracker; __gaTracker.getByName = newtracker; __gaTracker.getAll = function () { return []; }; __gaTracker.remove = noopfn; __gaTracker.loaded = true; window['__gaTracker'] = __gaTracker; })(); } else { console.log(""); (function () { function __gtagTracker() { return null; } window['__gtagTracker'] = __gtagTracker; window['gtag'] = __gtagTracker; })(); } </script>  <script> window._wpemojiSettings = {"baseUrl":"https:\/\/s.w.org\/images\/core\/emoji\/15.0.3\/72x72\/","ext":".png","svgUrl":"https:\/\/s.w.org\/images\/core\/emoji\/15.0.3\/svg\/","svgExt":".svg","source":{"concatemoji":"https:\/\/www.library.cornell.edu\/wp-includes\/js\/wp-emoji-release.min.js?ver=6.7.1.1725917191"}}; /*! This file is auto-generated */ !function(i,n){var o,s,e;function c(e){try{var t={supportTests:e,timestamp:(new Date).valueOf()};sessionStorage.setItem(o,JSON.stringify(t))}catch(e){}}function p(e,t,n){e.clearRect(0,0,e.canvas.width,e.canvas.height),e.fillText(t,0,0);var t=new Uint32Array(e.getImageData(0,0,e.canvas.width,e.canvas.height).data),r=(e.clearRect(0,0,e.canvas.width,e.canvas.height),e.fillText(n,0,0),new Uint32Array(e.getImageData(0,0,e.canvas.width,e.canvas.height).data));return t.every(function(e,t){return e===r[t]})}function u(e,t,n){switch(t){case"flag":return n(e,"\ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\u26a7\ufe0f","\ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200b\u26a7\ufe0f")?!1:!n(e,"\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf3","\ud83c\uddfa\u200b\ud83c\uddf3")&&!n(e,"\ud83c\udff4\udb40\udc67\udb40\udc62\udb40\udc65\udb40\udc6e\udb40\udc67\udb40\udc7f","\ud83c\udff4\u200b\udb40\udc67\u200b\udb40\udc62\u200b\udb40\udc65\u200b\udb40\udc6e\u200b\udb40\udc67\u200b\udb40\udc7f");case"emoji":return!n(e,"\ud83d\udc26\u200d\u2b1b","\ud83d\udc26\u200b\u2b1b")}return!1}function f(e,t,n){var r="undefined"!=typeof WorkerGlobalScope&&self instanceof WorkerGlobalScope?new OffscreenCanvas(300,150):i.createElement("canvas"),a=r.getContext("2d",{willReadFrequently:!0}),o=(a.textBaseline="top",a.font="600 32px Arial",{});return e.forEach(function(e){o[e]=t(a,e,n)}),o}function t(e){var t=i.createElement("script");t.src=e,t.defer=!0,i.head.appendChild(t)}"undefined"!=typeof Promise&&(o="wpEmojiSettingsSupports",s=["flag","emoji"],n.supports={everything:!0,everythingExceptFlag:!0},e=new Promise(function(e){i.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded",e,{once:!0})}),new Promise(function(t){var n=function(){try{var e=JSON.parse(sessionStorage.getItem(o));if("object"==typeof e&&"number"==typeof e.timestamp&&(new Date).valueOf()<e.timestamp+604800&&"object"==typeof e.supportTests)return e.supportTests}catch(e){}return null}();if(!n){if("undefined"!=typeof Worker&&"undefined"!=typeof OffscreenCanvas&&"undefined"!=typeof URL&&URL.createObjectURL&&"undefined"!=typeof Blob)try{var e="postMessage("+f.toString()+"("+[JSON.stringify(s),u.toString(),p.toString()].join(",")+"));",r=new Blob([e],{type:"text/javascript"}),a=new Worker(URL.createObjectURL(r),{name:"wpTestEmojiSupports"});return void(a.onmessage=function(e){c(n=e.data),a.terminate(),t(n)})}catch(e){}c(n=f(s,u,p))}t(n)}).then(function(e){for(var t in e)n.supports[t]=e[t],n.supports.everything=n.supports.everything&&n.supports[t],"flag"!==t&&(n.supports.everythingExceptFlag=n.supports.everythingExceptFlag&&n.supports[t]);n.supports.everythingExceptFlag=n.supports.everythingExceptFlag&&!n.supports.flag,n.DOMReady=!1,n.readyCallback=function(){n.DOMReady=!0}}).then(function(){return e}).then(function(){var e;n.supports.everything||(n.readyCallback(),(e=n.source||{}).concatemoji?t(e.concatemoji):e.wpemoji&&e.twemoji&&(t(e.twemoji),t(e.wpemoji)))}))}((window,document),window._wpemojiSettings); </script> <link rel='stylesheet' id='jvm-rich-text-icons-icon-font-css-css' href='https://cdnjs.cloudflare.com/ajax/libs/font-awesome/6.2.0/css/all.min.css?ver=6.7.1.1725917191' media='all' /> <style id='wp-emoji-styles-inline-css'> img.wp-smiley, img.emoji { display: inline !important; border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; height: 1em !important; width: 1em !important; margin: 0 0.07em !important; vertical-align: -0.1em !important; background: none !important; padding: 0 !important; } </style> <link rel='stylesheet' id='wp-block-library-css' href='https://www.library.cornell.edu/wp-includes/css/dist/block-library/style.min.css?ver=6.7.1.1725917191' media='all' /> <link rel='stylesheet' id='jetpack-layout-grid-css' href='https://www.library.cornell.edu/wp-content/plugins/layout-grid/style.css?ver=1732746162.1725917191' media='all' /> <link rel='stylesheet' id='ultimate_blocks-cgb-style-css-css' href='https://www.library.cornell.edu/wp-content/plugins/ultimate-blocks/dist/blocks.style.build.css?ver=674845fe27896.1725917191' media='all' /> <link rel='stylesheet' id='block-widget-css' href='https://www.library.cornell.edu/wp-content/plugins/widget-logic/block_widget/css/widget.css?ver=1732746163.1725917191' media='all' /> <style id='global-styles-inline-css'> :root{--wp--preset--aspect-ratio--square: 1;--wp--preset--aspect-ratio--4-3: 4/3;--wp--preset--aspect-ratio--3-4: 3/4;--wp--preset--aspect-ratio--3-2: 3/2;--wp--preset--aspect-ratio--2-3: 2/3;--wp--preset--aspect-ratio--16-9: 16/9;--wp--preset--aspect-ratio--9-16: 9/16;--wp--preset--color--black: #000000;--wp--preset--color--cyan-bluish-gray: #abb8c3;--wp--preset--color--white: #ffffff;--wp--preset--color--pale-pink: #f78da7;--wp--preset--color--vivid-red: #cf2e2e;--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-orange: #ff6900;--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-amber: #fcb900;--wp--preset--color--light-green-cyan: #7bdcb5;--wp--preset--color--vivid-green-cyan: #00d084;--wp--preset--color--pale-cyan-blue: #8ed1fc;--wp--preset--color--vivid-cyan-blue: #0693e3;--wp--preset--color--vivid-purple: #9b51e0;--wp--preset--color--primary-red: #B11B1B;--wp--preset--color--primary-dark-grey: #222222;--wp--preset--color--primary-white: #fff;--wp--preset--color--secondary-light-gray: #F7F7F7;--wp--preset--color--secondary-dark-warm-grey: #A2998B;--wp--preset--color--secondary-sea-gray: #9FAD9F;--wp--preset--color--accents-blue: #006699;--wp--preset--color--accents-green: #4B7B2B;--wp--preset--color--accents-orange: #D47500;--wp--preset--color--accents-red: #DF1E12;--wp--preset--color--accents-navy: #073949;--wp--preset--gradient--vivid-cyan-blue-to-vivid-purple: linear-gradient(135deg,rgba(6,147,227,1) 0%,rgb(155,81,224) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--light-green-cyan-to-vivid-green-cyan: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(122,220,180) 0%,rgb(0,208,130) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--luminous-vivid-amber-to-luminous-vivid-orange: linear-gradient(135deg,rgba(252,185,0,1) 0%,rgba(255,105,0,1) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--luminous-vivid-orange-to-vivid-red: linear-gradient(135deg,rgba(255,105,0,1) 0%,rgb(207,46,46) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--very-light-gray-to-cyan-bluish-gray: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(238,238,238) 0%,rgb(169,184,195) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--cool-to-warm-spectrum: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(74,234,220) 0%,rgb(151,120,209) 20%,rgb(207,42,186) 40%,rgb(238,44,130) 60%,rgb(251,105,98) 80%,rgb(254,248,76) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--blush-light-purple: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(255,206,236) 0%,rgb(152,150,240) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--blush-bordeaux: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(254,205,165) 0%,rgb(254,45,45) 50%,rgb(107,0,62) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--luminous-dusk: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(255,203,112) 0%,rgb(199,81,192) 50%,rgb(65,88,208) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--pale-ocean: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(255,245,203) 0%,rgb(182,227,212) 50%,rgb(51,167,181) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--electric-grass: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(202,248,128) 0%,rgb(113,206,126) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--midnight: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(2,3,129) 0%,rgb(40,116,252) 100%);--wp--preset--font-size--small: 13px;--wp--preset--font-size--medium: 20px;--wp--preset--font-size--large: 36px;--wp--preset--font-size--x-large: 42px;--wp--preset--spacing--20: 0.44rem;--wp--preset--spacing--30: 0.67rem;--wp--preset--spacing--40: 1rem;--wp--preset--spacing--50: 1.5rem;--wp--preset--spacing--60: 2.25rem;--wp--preset--spacing--70: 3.38rem;--wp--preset--spacing--80: 5.06rem;--wp--preset--shadow--natural: 6px 6px 9px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2);--wp--preset--shadow--deep: 12px 12px 50px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.4);--wp--preset--shadow--sharp: 6px 6px 0px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2);--wp--preset--shadow--outlined: 6px 6px 0px -3px rgba(255, 255, 255, 1), 6px 6px rgba(0, 0, 0, 1);--wp--preset--shadow--crisp: 6px 6px 0px rgba(0, 0, 0, 1);}:root { --wp--style--global--content-size: 840px;--wp--style--global--wide-size: 1100px; }:where(body) { margin: 0; }.wp-site-blocks > .alignleft { float: left; margin-right: 2em; }.wp-site-blocks > .alignright { float: right; margin-left: 2em; }.wp-site-blocks > .aligncenter { justify-content: center; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; }:where(.is-layout-flex){gap: 0.5em;}:where(.is-layout-grid){gap: 0.5em;}.is-layout-flow > .alignleft{float: left;margin-inline-start: 0;margin-inline-end: 2em;}.is-layout-flow > .alignright{float: right;margin-inline-start: 2em;margin-inline-end: 0;}.is-layout-flow > .aligncenter{margin-left: auto !important;margin-right: auto !important;}.is-layout-constrained > .alignleft{float: left;margin-inline-start: 0;margin-inline-end: 2em;}.is-layout-constrained > .alignright{float: right;margin-inline-start: 2em;margin-inline-end: 0;}.is-layout-constrained > .aligncenter{margin-left: auto !important;margin-right: auto !important;}.is-layout-constrained > :where(:not(.alignleft):not(.alignright):not(.alignfull)){max-width: var(--wp--style--global--content-size);margin-left: auto !important;margin-right: auto !important;}.is-layout-constrained > .alignwide{max-width: var(--wp--style--global--wide-size);}body .is-layout-flex{display: flex;}.is-layout-flex{flex-wrap: wrap;align-items: center;}.is-layout-flex > :is(*, div){margin: 0;}body .is-layout-grid{display: grid;}.is-layout-grid > :is(*, div){margin: 0;}body{padding-top: 0px;padding-right: 0px;padding-bottom: 0px;padding-left: 0px;}a:where(:not(.wp-element-button)){text-decoration: underline;}:root :where(.wp-element-button, .wp-block-button__link){background-color: #32373c;border-width: 0;color: #fff;font-family: inherit;font-size: inherit;line-height: inherit;padding: calc(0.667em + 2px) calc(1.333em + 2px);text-decoration: none;}.has-black-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--black) !important;}.has-cyan-bluish-gray-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--cyan-bluish-gray) !important;}.has-white-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--white) !important;}.has-pale-pink-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--pale-pink) !important;}.has-vivid-red-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-red) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-orange-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-orange) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-amber-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-amber) !important;}.has-light-green-cyan-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--light-green-cyan) !important;}.has-vivid-green-cyan-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-green-cyan) !important;}.has-pale-cyan-blue-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--pale-cyan-blue) !important;}.has-vivid-cyan-blue-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-cyan-blue) !important;}.has-vivid-purple-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-purple) !important;}.has-primary-red-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--primary-red) !important;}.has-primary-dark-grey-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--primary-dark-grey) !important;}.has-primary-white-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--primary-white) !important;}.has-secondary-light-gray-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--secondary-light-gray) !important;}.has-secondary-dark-warm-grey-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--secondary-dark-warm-grey) !important;}.has-secondary-sea-gray-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--secondary-sea-gray) !important;}.has-accents-blue-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--accents-blue) !important;}.has-accents-green-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--accents-green) !important;}.has-accents-orange-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--accents-orange) !important;}.has-accents-red-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--accents-red) !important;}.has-accents-navy-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--accents-navy) !important;}.has-black-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--black) !important;}.has-cyan-bluish-gray-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--cyan-bluish-gray) !important;}.has-white-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--white) !important;}.has-pale-pink-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--pale-pink) !important;}.has-vivid-red-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-red) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-orange-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-orange) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-amber-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-amber) !important;}.has-light-green-cyan-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--light-green-cyan) !important;}.has-vivid-green-cyan-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-green-cyan) !important;}.has-pale-cyan-blue-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--pale-cyan-blue) !important;}.has-vivid-cyan-blue-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-cyan-blue) !important;}.has-vivid-purple-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-purple) !important;}.has-primary-red-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--primary-red) !important;}.has-primary-dark-grey-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--primary-dark-grey) !important;}.has-primary-white-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--primary-white) !important;}.has-secondary-light-gray-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--secondary-light-gray) !important;}.has-secondary-dark-warm-grey-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--secondary-dark-warm-grey) !important;}.has-secondary-sea-gray-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--secondary-sea-gray) !important;}.has-accents-blue-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--accents-blue) !important;}.has-accents-green-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--accents-green) !important;}.has-accents-orange-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--accents-orange) !important;}.has-accents-red-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--accents-red) !important;}.has-accents-navy-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--accents-navy) !important;}.has-black-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--black) !important;}.has-cyan-bluish-gray-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--cyan-bluish-gray) !important;}.has-white-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--white) !important;}.has-pale-pink-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--pale-pink) !important;}.has-vivid-red-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-red) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-orange-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-orange) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-amber-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-amber) !important;}.has-light-green-cyan-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--light-green-cyan) !important;}.has-vivid-green-cyan-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-green-cyan) !important;}.has-pale-cyan-blue-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--pale-cyan-blue) !important;}.has-vivid-cyan-blue-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-cyan-blue) !important;}.has-vivid-purple-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-purple) !important;}.has-primary-red-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--primary-red) !important;}.has-primary-dark-grey-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--primary-dark-grey) !important;}.has-primary-white-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--primary-white) !important;}.has-secondary-light-gray-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--secondary-light-gray) !important;}.has-secondary-dark-warm-grey-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--secondary-dark-warm-grey) !important;}.has-secondary-sea-gray-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--secondary-sea-gray) !important;}.has-accents-blue-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--accents-blue) !important;}.has-accents-green-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--accents-green) !important;}.has-accents-orange-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--accents-orange) !important;}.has-accents-red-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--accents-red) !important;}.has-accents-navy-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--accents-navy) !important;}.has-vivid-cyan-blue-to-vivid-purple-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--vivid-cyan-blue-to-vivid-purple) !important;}.has-light-green-cyan-to-vivid-green-cyan-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--light-green-cyan-to-vivid-green-cyan) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-amber-to-luminous-vivid-orange-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--luminous-vivid-amber-to-luminous-vivid-orange) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-orange-to-vivid-red-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--luminous-vivid-orange-to-vivid-red) !important;}.has-very-light-gray-to-cyan-bluish-gray-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--very-light-gray-to-cyan-bluish-gray) !important;}.has-cool-to-warm-spectrum-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--cool-to-warm-spectrum) !important;}.has-blush-light-purple-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--blush-light-purple) !important;}.has-blush-bordeaux-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--blush-bordeaux) !important;}.has-luminous-dusk-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--luminous-dusk) !important;}.has-pale-ocean-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--pale-ocean) !important;}.has-electric-grass-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--electric-grass) !important;}.has-midnight-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--midnight) !important;}.has-small-font-size{font-size: var(--wp--preset--font-size--small) !important;}.has-medium-font-size{font-size: var(--wp--preset--font-size--medium) !important;}.has-large-font-size{font-size: var(--wp--preset--font-size--large) !important;}.has-x-large-font-size{font-size: var(--wp--preset--font-size--x-large) !important;} :where(.wp-block-post-template.is-layout-flex){gap: 1.25em;}:where(.wp-block-post-template.is-layout-grid){gap: 1.25em;} :where(.wp-block-columns.is-layout-flex){gap: 2em;}:where(.wp-block-columns.is-layout-grid){gap: 2em;} :root :where(.wp-block-pullquote){font-size: 1.5em;line-height: 1.6;} </style> <link rel='stylesheet' id='cu_ares_tablesorter_skin-css' href='https://www.library.cornell.edu/wp-content/plugins/ares_wordpress-master/table_skins/cu/ares-table-cu-style.css?ver=6.7.1.1725917191' media='all' /> <link rel='stylesheet' id='jquery-ui-styles-css' href='https://ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/jqueryui/1.8/themes/base/jquery-ui.css?ver=6.7.1.1725917191' media='all' /> <link rel='stylesheet' id='ub-extension-style-css-css' href='https://www.library.cornell.edu/wp-content/plugins/ultimate-blocks/src/extensions/style.css?ver=6.7.1.1725917191' media='all' /> <link rel='stylesheet' id='wp-libcal-hours-css' href='https://www.library.cornell.edu/wp-content/plugins/wp-libcal-hours-master/public/css/wp-libcal-hours-public.css?ver=2.1.4.1725917191' media='all' /> <link rel='stylesheet' id='freight_font-css' href='https://use.typekit.net/vcl4exk.css?ver=6.7.1.1725917191' media='all' /> <link rel='stylesheet' id='_cul-style-css' href='https://www.library.cornell.edu/wp-content/themes/cul-theme/style.css?ver=1.0.0.1725917191' media='all' /> <script src="https://www.library.cornell.edu/wp-content/plugins/google-analytics-dashboard-for-wp/assets/js/frontend-gtag.min.js?ver=8.2.0.1725917191" id="exactmetrics-frontend-script-js" async data-wp-strategy="async"></script> <script data-cfasync="false" data-wpfc-render="false" id='exactmetrics-frontend-script-js-extra'>var exactmetrics_frontend = {"js_events_tracking":"true","download_extensions":"doc,pdf,ppt,zip,xls,docx,pptx,xlsx","inbound_paths":"[{\"path\":\"\\\/go\\\/\",\"label\":\"affiliate\"},{\"path\":\"\\\/recommend\\\/\",\"label\":\"affiliate\"}]","home_url":"https:\/\/www.library.cornell.edu","hash_tracking":"false","v4_id":"G-J658M0HB4R"};</script> <script id="cu_ares_js-js-extra"> var my_ajax_obj = {"ajax_url":"https:\/\/www.library.cornell.edu\/wp-admin\/admin-ajax.php","nonce":"00aa15bab6"}; </script> <script src="https://www.library.cornell.edu/wp-content/plugins/ares_wordpress-master/js/ares.js?ver=6.7.1.1725917191" id="cu_ares_js-js"></script> <script src="https://www.library.cornell.edu/wp-includes/js/jquery/jquery.min.js?ver=3.7.1.1725917191" id="jquery-core-js"></script> <script src="https://www.library.cornell.edu/wp-includes/js/jquery/jquery-migrate.min.js?ver=3.4.1.1725917191" id="jquery-migrate-js"></script> <script src="https://www.library.cornell.edu/wp-content/plugins/ares_wordpress-master/js/jquery.tablesorter.min.js?ver=6.7.1.1725917191" id="cu_ares_tableshorter_js-js"></script> <script src="https://www.library.cornell.edu/wp-includes/js/jquery/ui/core.min.js?ver=1.13.3.1725917191" id="jquery-ui-core-js"></script> <script src="https://www.library.cornell.edu/wp-includes/js/jquery/ui/menu.min.js?ver=1.13.3.1725917191" id="jquery-ui-menu-js"></script> <script src="https://www.library.cornell.edu/wp-includes/js/dist/dom-ready.min.js?ver=f77871ff7694fffea381.1725917191" id="wp-dom-ready-js"></script> <script src="https://www.library.cornell.edu/wp-includes/js/dist/hooks.min.js?ver=4d63a3d491d11ffd8ac6.1725917191" id="wp-hooks-js"></script> <script src="https://www.library.cornell.edu/wp-includes/js/dist/i18n.min.js?ver=5e580eb46a90c2b997e6.1725917191" id="wp-i18n-js"></script> <script id="wp-i18n-js-after"> wp.i18n.setLocaleData( { 'text direction\u0004ltr': [ 'ltr' ] } ); </script> <script src="https://www.library.cornell.edu/wp-includes/js/dist/a11y.min.js?ver=3156534cc54473497e14.1725917191" id="wp-a11y-js"></script> <script src="https://www.library.cornell.edu/wp-includes/js/jquery/ui/autocomplete.min.js?ver=1.13.3.1725917191" id="jquery-ui-autocomplete-js"></script> <script id="bestbetsautocomplete-js-extra"> var BBAutocomplete = {"url":"https:\/\/www.library.cornell.edu\/wp-admin\/admin-ajax.php"}; </script> <script src="https://www.library.cornell.edu/wp-content/plugins/bestbets-autocomplete/assets/js/bb_autocomplete.js?ver=1.0.1725917191" id="bestbetsautocomplete-js"></script> <script src="https://www.library.cornell.edu/wp-content/plugins/wp-libcal-hours-master/public/js/wp-libcal-hours-public.js?ver=2.1.4.1725917191" id="wp-libcal-hours-js"></script> <script src="https://www.library.cornell.edu/wp-content/themes/cul-theme/js/accessibility.js?ver=6.7.1.1725917191" id="_cul-accessibility-js"></script> <link rel="https://api.w.org/" href="https://www.library.cornell.edu/wp-json/" /><link rel="alternate" title="JSON" type="application/json" href="https://www.library.cornell.edu/wp-json/wp/v2/pages/105" /><link rel="EditURI" type="application/rsd+xml" title="RSD" href="https://www.library.cornell.edu/xmlrpc.php?rsd" /> <meta name="generator" content="WordPress 6.7.1" /> <link rel="canonical" href="https://www.library.cornell.edu/about/commitment-to-privacy/" /> <link rel='shortlink' href='https://www.library.cornell.edu/?p=105' /> <link rel="alternate" title="oEmbed (JSON)" type="application/json+oembed" href="https://www.library.cornell.edu/wp-json/oembed/1.0/embed?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.library.cornell.edu%2Fabout%2Fcommitment-to-privacy%2F" /> <link rel="alternate" title="oEmbed (XML)" type="text/xml+oembed" href="https://www.library.cornell.edu/wp-json/oembed/1.0/embed?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.library.cornell.edu%2Fabout%2Fcommitment-to-privacy%2F&format=xml" /> <meta property="og:title" name="og:title" content="Commitment to Privacy" /> <meta property="og:type" name="og:type" content="article" /> <meta property="og:url" name="og:url" content="https://www.library.cornell.edu/about/commitment-to-privacy/" /> <meta property="og:description" name="og:description" content="As expressed in its mission, Cornell University aims to “discover, preserve, and disseminate knowledge” and “promote a culture of broad inquiry throughout and beyond the Cornell ..." /> <meta property="og:locale" name="og:locale" content="en_US" /> <meta property="og:site_name" name="og:site_name" content="Cornell University Library" /> <meta property="twitter:card" name="twitter:card" content="summary" /> <meta property="article:published_time" name="article:published_time" content="2022-07-25T17:22:18-04:00" /> <meta property="article:modified_time" name="article:modified_time" content="2024-05-03T13:32:45-04:00" /> <meta property="article:author" name="article:author" content="https://www.library.cornell.edu/author/adam-chandler/" /> <style>#ub-tabbed-content-b5c2d44d-a9f6-4839-a147-205d2a273c84{ }#ub-tabbed-content-b5c2d44d-a9f6-4839-a147-205d2a273c84 > .wp-block-ub-tabbed-content-tab-holder > .wp-block-ub-tabbed-content-tabs-title > .wp-block-ub-tabbed-content-tab-title-wrap, #ub-tabbed-content-b5c2d44d-a9f6-4839-a147-205d2a273c84 > .wp-block-ub-tabbed-content-tab-holder > .wp-block-ub-tabbed-content-tabs-title-vertical-tab > .wp-block-ub-tabbed-content-tab-title-vertical-wrap{ background-color: inherit; border-color: lightgrey; color: inherit; } #ub-tabbed-content-b5c2d44d-a9f6-4839-a147-205d2a273c84 > .wp-block-ub-tabbed-content-tab-holder > .wp-block-ub-tabbed-content-tabs-title > .wp-block-ub-tabbed-content-tab-title-wrap.active, #ub-tabbed-content-b5c2d44d-a9f6-4839-a147-205d2a273c84 > .wp-block-ub-tabbed-content-tab-holder > .wp-block-ub-tabbed-content-tabs-title-vertical-tab > .wp-block-ub-tabbed-content-tab-title-vertical-wrap.active,#ub-tabbed-content-b5c2d44d-a9f6-4839-a147-205d2a273c84 > .wp-block-ub-tabbed-content-tab-holder > .wp-block-ub-tabbed-content-tabs-title > .wp-block-ub-tabbed-content-accordion-toggle.active{ background-color: #eeeeee; color: inherit; }#ub-tabbed-content-b5c2d44d-a9f6-4839-a147-205d2a273c84 .wp-block-ub-tabbed-content-accordion-toggle.active{ background-color: #eeeeee; }#ub-tabbed-content-b5c2d44d-a9f6-4839-a147-205d2a273c84 > .wp-block-ub-tabbed-content-tab-holder > .wp-block-ub-tabbed-content-tabs-title{ justify-content: flex-start; } #ub-tabbed-content-b5c2d44d-a9f6-4839-a147-205d2a273c84 .wp-block-ub-tabbed-content-accordion-toggle{ background-color: transparent; color: inherit; } #ub-tabbed-content-b5c2d44d-a9f6-4839-a147-205d2a273c84 > .wp-block-ub-tabbed-content-tab-holder > .wp-block-ub-tabbed-content-tabs-title > .wp-block-ub-tabbed-content-tab-title-wrap:nth-child(1){ text-align: left; } #ub-tabbed-content-b5c2d44d-a9f6-4839-a147-205d2a273c84 > .wp-block-ub-tabbed-content-tab-holder > .wp-block-ub-tabbed-content-tabs-title > .wp-block-ub-tabbed-content-tab-title-wrap:nth-child(2){ text-align: left; } #ub-tabbed-content-b5c2d44d-a9f6-4839-a147-205d2a273c84 > .wp-block-ub-tabbed-content-tab-holder > .wp-block-ub-tabbed-content-tabs-title > .wp-block-ub-tabbed-content-tab-title-wrap:nth-child(3){ text-align: left; } #ub-content-toggle-d5f1bf60-3784-4fd3-8de2-adb914acb7f0{ }#ub-content-toggle-d5f1bf60-3784-4fd3-8de2-adb914acb7f0 .wp-block-ub-content-toggle-accordion{ border-color: #f1f1f1; } #ub-content-toggle-d5f1bf60-3784-4fd3-8de2-adb914acb7f0 .wp-block-ub-content-toggle-accordion-title-wrap{ background-color: #f1f1f1; } #ub-content-toggle-d5f1bf60-3784-4fd3-8de2-adb914acb7f0 .wp-block-ub-content-toggle-accordion-title{ color: #000000; } #ub-content-toggle-d5f1bf60-3784-4fd3-8de2-adb914acb7f0 .wp-block-ub-content-toggle-accordion-toggle-wrap{ color: #000000; } .ub-content-toggle-title-2a31d0bb-75bc-4943-a327-926837955a71 > a{ color: inherit; }</style> <script> (function($) { $(function() { FWP.hooks.addAction('facetwp/loaded', function() { $('<p class="selections-label">You selected: </p>').insertBefore('.facetwp-selections ul'); }, 100 ); }); })(jQuery); </script> <style id="kirki-inline-styles"></style> <script src="https://kit.fontawesome.com/f5d3add7b4.js" crossorigin="anonymous"></script>  <link rel="preconnect" href="https://fonts.googleapis.com"> <link rel="preconnect" href="https://fonts.gstatic.com" crossorigin> <link href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css2?family=Lato:ital,wght@0,300;0,700;1,300;1,700&family=Open+Sans:ital,wght@0,300;0,600;1,300;1,600&family=PT+Sans:ital,wght@0,400;0,700;1,400;1,700&family=Raleway:ital,wght@0,200;0,400;0,600;0,700;1,200;1,400;1,600;1,700&family=Source+Sans+Pro:ital,wght@0,300;0,600;1,300;1,600&display=swap" rel="stylesheet"> </head> <style> .hero { background: #fff url('/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/HomeHeroImage-scaled.jpg') no-repeat top left; background-size: cover; background-position: top center; @media only screen and (min-width: 640px) { background-position: top left; } } .about .hero { background: #fff url('/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/about-us-section-1.png') no-repeat top left; background-size: cover; } .libraries .hero { background: #fff url('/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/2021_1167_SH_017.png') no-repeat 0 100%; background-size: cover; } .get-help .hero { background: #fff url('/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/InteriorHeroHeader6.jpg') no-repeat top left; background-size: cover; } .study .hero { background: #fff url('/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/study2.png') no-repeat top left; background-size: cover; } .collections .hero { background: #fff url('/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/research.png') no-repeat top left; background-size: cover; } .research-teaching .hero { background: #fff url('/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/InteriorHeroHeader8.jpg') no-repeat top left; background-size: cover; } </style> <body class="page-template page-template-page-sidebar page-template-page-sidebar-php page page-id-105 page-child parent-pageid-749 about no-sidebar">  <style> /* Primary announcement banner */ #announcement-banner { background-color: #42526e; } #announcement-banner, #announcement-banner p, #announcement-banner a, #announcement-banner .close-announcement { color: #ffffff; } /* Secondary announcement banner */ #announcement-banner-2 { background-color: #f2dede; } #announcement-banner-2, #announcement-banner-2 p, #announcement-banner-2 a, #announcement-banner-2 .close-announcement-2 { color: #843534; } </style> <div id="page" class="site"> <a class="skip-link screen-reader-text" href="#primary">Skip to content</a> <header class="site-header branding">  <div class="logo-cul"> <div class="cornell-logo"> <a href="https://www.cornell.edu" class="insignia" title="Cornell University homepage">Cornell University</a> <a class="library-brand" href="/" title="Cornell University Library homepage">Cornell University Library</a> </div> </div>  <nav class="user-tools" aria-label="My Account and search"> <ul>  <li class="quick-links"><a class="quick-links-select" href="#" id="get-started" onclick="_paq.push(['trackEvent', 'Popular Links', 'Popular Links click']);" role="button" aria-haspopup="menu">Popular Links <i class="fa-solid fa-chevron-down"></i></a>  <ul class="quick-links-options"> <li><a href="http://cornell-borrowdirect.reshare.indexdata.com/" onclick="_paq.push(['trackEvent', 'Popular Links', 'Borrow Direct']);">Borrow Direct</a></li> <li><a href="https://cornell.hosts.atlas-sys.com/ILLiad/illiad.dll" onclick="_paq.push(['trackEvent', 'Popular Links', 'Interlibrary Loan']);">Interlibrary Loan</a></li> <li><a href="/collections/off-campus-access/" onclick="_paq.push(['trackEvent', 'Popular Links', 'Off-Campus Access']);">Off-Campus Access</a></li> <li><a href="/study/citation-management/" onclick="_paq.push(['trackEvent', 'Popular Links', 'Citation Management']);">Citation Management</a></li> <li><a href="/about/events/workshops/" onclick="_paq.push(['trackEvent', 'Popular Links', 'Workshops']);">Workshops</a></li> <li><a href="https://guides.library.cornell.edu/home" onclick="_paq.push(['trackEvent', 'Popular Links', 'Research Guides']);">Research Guides</a></li> <li><a href="https://alumni.library.cornell.edu" onclick="_paq.push(['trackEvent', 'Popular Links', 'Alumni Access']);">Alumni Access</a></li> </ul> </li> <li><a href="https://catalog.library.cornell.edu/myaccount/login" title="My Account">My Account</a></li> <li><button class="icon-search" title="Search"><i class="fas fa-search" aria-hidden="true"><span class="sr-only">Search site and Catalog</span></i></button></li> </ul> </nav> </header> <div class="user-tool-search"> <form class="sub-search" role="search" aria-label="Search catalog and site" method="get" action="/"> <div class="search-field"> <label for="search">Search</label> <input type="text" id="search-query" aria-label="Search Overlay" value="" /> <fieldset class="search-filter"> <legend class="sr-only">Filter Search</legend> <div class="search-library-resources"><input type="radio" name="search-type" value="catalog" id="catalog" aria-label="Search Overlay Catalog Filter" checked /> <label for="catalog">Library Resources</label></div> <div class="search-library-unit"><input class="site-search" type="radio" name="search-type" value="site" id="site" aria-label="Search Overlay Site Filter" /> <label for="site">This site</label></div> </fieldset> </div> <button class="btn-submit" type="submit">Search</button> <button class="btn-close-search">Close</button> </form> <div class="all-resources"> <span class="search-links-label">All Resources</span> <a href="https://catalog.library.cornell.edu/" class="first" onclick="_paq.push(['trackEvent', 'All Resources Sub Links', 'Catalog']);">Catalog</a> <a href="https://discovery.ebsco.com/c/u2yil2" onclick="_paq.push(['trackEvent', 'All Resources Sub Links', 'Articles']);">Articles + Full Text</a> <a href="https://catalog.library.cornell.edu/databases" onclick="_paq.push(['trackEvent', 'All Resources Sub Links', 'Databases']);">Databases</a> <a href="https://erms.library.cornell.edu" onclick="_paq.push(['trackEvent', 'All Resources Sub Links', 'Ejournal titles']);">E-journal Titles</a> </div> </div> <nav id="site-navigation" class="main-navigation" aria-label="Main"> <button class="menu-toggle" aria-controls="primary-menu" aria-expanded="false"><i class="fa-solid fa-bars"><span class="sr-only">Main navigation menu</span></i></button> <div class="menu-menu-1-container"><ul id="primary-menu" class="menu"><li id="menu-item-788" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-788"><a href="/">Home</a></li> <li id="menu-item-789" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page current-page-ancestor current-menu-ancestor current-menu-parent current-page-parent current_page_parent current_page_ancestor menu-item-has-children menu-item-789"><a href="https://www.library.cornell.edu/about/">About</a> <ul class="sub-menu"> <li id="menu-item-790" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-790"><a href="https://www.library.cornell.edu/about/staff/">Staff</a></li> <li id="menu-item-3798" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-3798"><a href="https://www.library.cornell.edu/about/all-news/">News</a></li> <li id="menu-item-3799" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-3799"><a href="https://www.library.cornell.edu/about/events/">Events</a></li> <li id="menu-item-10147" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page current-menu-item page_item page-item-105 current_page_item menu-item-10147"><a href="https://www.library.cornell.edu/about/commitment-to-privacy/" aria-current="page">Commitment to Privacy</a></li> <li id="menu-item-10148" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-10148"><a href="https://www.library.cornell.edu/about/diversity-and-inclusion/">Diversity and Inclusion</a></li> </ul> </li> <li id="menu-item-3451" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-has-children menu-item-3451"><a href="https://www.library.cornell.edu/libraries/">Libraries</a> <ul class="sub-menu"> <li id="menu-item-3454" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-3454"><a href="https://www.library.cornell.edu/libraries/spaces/">Find a Space</a></li> <li id="menu-item-3455" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-3455"><a href="https://www.library.cornell.edu/libraries/visit/">Visit</a></li> <li id="menu-item-3453" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-3453"><a href="https://www.library.cornell.edu/libraries/policies/">Policies</a></li> </ul> </li> <li id="menu-item-769" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-has-children menu-item-769"><a href="https://www.library.cornell.edu/get-help/">Get Help</a> <ul class="sub-menu"> <li id="menu-item-771" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-771"><a href="https://www.library.cornell.edu/get-help/ask/">Ask a Librarian</a></li> <li id="menu-item-772" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-772"><a href="https://www.library.cornell.edu/get-help/meet-with-a-librarian/">Meet with a Librarian</a></li> <li id="menu-item-773" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-773"><a href="https://www.library.cornell.edu/get-help/disability-services/">Disability Services</a></li> <li id="menu-item-4749" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-4749"><a href="https://www.library.cornell.edu/get-help/personal-librarian/">Personal Librarian</a></li> </ul> </li> <li id="menu-item-791" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-has-children menu-item-791"><a href="https://www.library.cornell.edu/study/">Study</a> <ul class="sub-menu"> <li id="menu-item-777" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-777"><a href="https://www.library.cornell.edu/study/course-reserves/">Course Reserves for Students</a></li> <li id="menu-item-775" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-775"><a href="https://www.library.cornell.edu/study/technology-and-equipment/">Technology and Equipment</a></li> <li id="menu-item-3782" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-3782"><a href="https://www.library.cornell.edu/study/introduction-to-research/">Getting Started with Library Research</a></li> <li id="menu-item-3780" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-3780"><a href="https://www.library.cornell.edu/study/citation-management/">Citation Management</a></li> <li id="menu-item-10251" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-10251"><a href="https://guides.library.cornell.edu/home">Research Guides</a></li> </ul> </li> <li id="menu-item-793" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-has-children menu-item-793"><a href="https://www.library.cornell.edu/collections/">Collections</a> <ul class="sub-menu"> <li id="menu-item-776" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-776"><a href="https://www.library.cornell.edu/collections/borrow-renew-return/">Borrow, Renew, Return</a></li> <li id="menu-item-2648" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-2648"><a href="https://www.library.cornell.edu/collections/special-collections/">Special Collections</a></li> <li id="menu-item-8785" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-8785"><a href="https://www.library.cornell.edu/collections/theses-dissertations/">Theses and Dissertations</a></li> <li id="menu-item-8787" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-8787"><a href="https://www.library.cornell.edu/collections/visual-resources/">Visual Resources</a></li> <li id="menu-item-16144" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-16144"><a href="https://www.library.cornell.edu/collections/collection-development/">Collection Development</a></li> <li id="menu-item-3777" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-3777"><a href="https://www.library.cornell.edu/collections/recommend-a-purchase/">Recommend a Purchase</a></li> <li id="menu-item-8788" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-8788"><a href="https://www.library.cornell.edu/collections/off-campus-access/">Off-Campus Access</a></li> </ul> </li> <li id="menu-item-781" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-has-children menu-item-781"><a href="https://www.library.cornell.edu/research-teaching/">Research and Teaching</a> <ul class="sub-menu"> <li id="menu-item-783" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-783"><a href="https://www.library.cornell.edu/research-teaching/research-support/">Research Support</a></li> <li id="menu-item-792" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-792"><a href="https://www.library.cornell.edu/research-teaching/instruction-support/">Instruction Support</a></li> <li id="menu-item-786" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-786"><a href="https://www.library.cornell.edu/research-teaching/course-reserves-for-instructors/">Course Reserves for Instructors</a></li> <li id="menu-item-784" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-784"><a href="https://www.library.cornell.edu/research-teaching/digitization-and-copyright/">Digitization and Copyright</a></li> <li id="menu-item-787" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-787"><a href="https://www.library.cornell.edu/research-teaching/current-awareness/">Current Awareness</a></li> <li id="menu-item-785" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-785"><a href="https://www.library.cornell.edu/research-teaching/scholarly-publishing/">Scholarly Publishing</a></li> </ul> </li> </ul></div> </nav> <section class="hero hero-interior"> </section> <main id="primary" class="site-content"> <nav class="breadcrumbs" typeof="BreadcrumbList" vocab="https://schema.org/" aria-label="Breadcrumb">  <span property="itemListElement" typeof="ListItem"><a property="item" typeof="WebPage" title="Go to Cornell University Library." href="https://www.library.cornell.edu" class="home" ><span property="name">Home</span></a><meta property="position" content="1"></span> / <span property="itemListElement" typeof="ListItem"><a property="item" typeof="WebPage" title="Go to About." href="https://www.library.cornell.edu/about/" class="post post-page" ><span property="name">About</span></a><meta property="position" content="2"></span> / <span property="itemListElement" typeof="ListItem"><span property="name" class="post post-page current-item">Commitment to Privacy</span><meta property="url" content="https://www.library.cornell.edu/about/commitment-to-privacy/"><meta property="position" content="3"></span> </nav> <section class="content-post"> <article id="post-105" class="post-105 page type-page status-publish hentry"> <header class="entry-header"> <h1 class="entry-title">Commitment to Privacy</h1> </header> <div class="entry-content"> <p>As expressed in its <a href="https://www.cornell.edu/about/mission.cfm">mission</a>, Cornell University aims to “discover, preserve, and disseminate knowledge” and “promote a culture of broad inquiry throughout and beyond the Cornell community.” These aims can only be achieved by safeguarding the intellectual freedom and privacy of Cornell’s students, faculty, and staff—all of whom need space for private exploration and experimentation in pursuing scholarly and creative endeavors.</p> <p>We at Cornell University Library are proud of our enduring commitment to privacy and confidentiality, and we acknowledge that traditional approaches to protecting patron privacy and confidentiality need to be augmented as more and more library collections involve licensed electronic resources from third-party vendors, and as new technologies gather user data with increasing stealth and ease.</p> <p>As part of expanding our efforts to safeguard patron privacy and confidentiality, we list the following library services and features. <strong>For questions or feedback, contact us at cul-privacy@cornell.edu.</strong> </p> <div class="wp-block-ub-tabbed-content-block wp-block-ub-tabbed-content wp-block-ub-tabbed-content-holder wp-block-ub-tabbed-content-horizontal-holder-mobile wp-block-ub-tabbed-content-horizontal-holder-tablet" id="ub-tabbed-content-b5c2d44d-a9f6-4839-a147-205d2a273c84"> <div class="wp-block-ub-tabbed-content-tab-holder horizontal-tab-width-mobile horizontal-tab-width-tablet"> <div role="tablist" class="wp-block-ub-tabbed-content-tabs-title wp-block-ub-tabbed-content-tabs-title-mobile-horizontal-tab wp-block-ub-tabbed-content-tabs-title-tablet-horizontal-tab"><div role="tab" id="ub-tabbed-content-b5c2d44d-a9f6-4839-a147-205d2a273c84-tab-0" aria-controls="ub-tabbed-content-b5c2d44d-a9f6-4839-a147-205d2a273c84-panel-0" aria-selected="true" class="wp-block-ub-tabbed-content-tab-title-wrap active" style="background-color: #eeeeee; border-color: #eeeeee; " tabindex="-1"> <div class="wp-block-ub-tabbed-content-tab-title">Digital Privacy Literacy</div> </div><div role="tab" id="ub-tabbed-content-b5c2d44d-a9f6-4839-a147-205d2a273c84-tab-1" aria-controls="ub-tabbed-content-b5c2d44d-a9f6-4839-a147-205d2a273c84-panel-1" aria-selected="false" class="wp-block-ub-tabbed-content-tab-title-wrap" style="border-color: lightgrey; color: #000000; " tabindex="-1"> <div class="wp-block-ub-tabbed-content-tab-title">Licensing for Privacy</div> </div><div role="tab" id="ub-tabbed-content-b5c2d44d-a9f6-4839-a147-205d2a273c84-tab-2" aria-controls="ub-tabbed-content-b5c2d44d-a9f6-4839-a147-205d2a273c84-panel-2" aria-selected="false" class="wp-block-ub-tabbed-content-tab-title-wrap" style="border-color: lightgrey; color: #000000; " tabindex="-1"> <div class="wp-block-ub-tabbed-content-tab-title">Privacy Risk Consultations</div> </div></div> </div> <div class="wp-block-ub-tabbed-content-tabs-content" style=""><div role="tabpanel" class="wp-block-ub-tabbed-content-tab-content-wrap active" id="ub-tabbed-content-630b96f1-ca1d-4ae1-a0b8-007be31bffaf-panel-0" aria-labelledby="ub-tabbed-content-630b96f1-ca1d-4ae1-a0b8-007be31bffaf-tab-0" tabindex="0"> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Digital Privacy Literacy</h2> <p>Our digital privacy literacy workshops and individual consultations help students and researchers in several ways:</p> <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>To understand how the internet works.</li> <li>To identify potential risks to privacy, security, and anonymity encountered day to day while conducting personal or academic tasks digitally.</li> <li>To master practical actions that reduce risks to privacy.</li> </ul> <p>Each semester, we conduct at least one public drop-in workshop about digital privacy literacy. <a href="https://www.library.cornell.edu/about/events/workshops/">View the full Library workshops calendar</a>.</p> <p>In addition, upon request, we lead privacy workshops customized for classes, academic departments, and other campus groups or organizations. Email us at <a href="mailto:cul-privacy@cornell.edu">cul-privacy@cornell.edu</a> about workshops for your class or group.</p> <p>We also offer individual consultations by appointment. To schedule your one-on-one consultation, stop by a reference desk or email us at <a href="mailto:cul-privacy@cornell.edu">cul-privacy@cornell.edu</a>. You can also <a href="/get-help/ask">ask a librarian</a> to reach out to us with your privacy questions.</p> <p>Apart from supporting Cornell students and researchers, the Library is committed to developing the privacy expertise of all of our research and teaching librarians.</p> </div><div role="tabpanel" class="wp-block-ub-tabbed-content-tab-content-wrap ub-hide" id="ub-tabbed-content-630b96f1-ca1d-4ae1-a0b8-007be31bffaf-panel-1" aria-labelledby="ub-tabbed-content-630b96f1-ca1d-4ae1-a0b8-007be31bffaf-tab-1" tabindex="0" data-tab-anchor="privacy"> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Licensing for Privacy</h2> <p>Cornell University Library provides online access to e-resources from hundreds of vendors that vary greatly in addressing patron privacy. Some vendors only require users to confirm affiliation with a subscribing institution to get access, while other vendors seek to gather significant user information by requiring more steps before granting access—including asking users to create unique accounts with vendors, subscribe to their newsletters, or provide extensive demographic and industry information.</p> <p>The Library fights against these privacy degradations <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ui6GIutukgIDlY_AklYMaUG549jpJ_pD/view">in solidarity with our peer institutions</a>. Whenever possible, we negotiate with vendors on licensing agreements for online resources in order to secure strong privacy protections for our patrons on and off campus. When we are unable to negotiate changes to invasive policies, we weigh alternatives and proper actions, including canceling subscriptions, if necessary.</p> <p>When choosing vendors, we balance the risks and benefits of their resources. In addition, we are developing ways to inform users of vendors’ privacy practices—whether good or bad—including a notification system that warns about risks posed by resources that our patrons may deem essential despite our privacy concerns.</p> <p>As part of raising awareness about privacy issues related to licensing, we are also creating an online collection of privacy policies from various vendors so that these policies and how they change over time can be monitored and studied. We have already started a  <a href="https://archive-it.org/collections/12153">web-archiving collection</a> that automatically collects privacy statements from vendors, today and into the future. </p> <p>Email us at <a href="mailto:cul-privacy@cornell.edu">cul-privacy@cornell.edu</a> with questions or concerns about licensed resources.</p> </div><div role="tabpanel" class="wp-block-ub-tabbed-content-tab-content-wrap ub-hide" id="ub-tabbed-content-630b96f1-ca1d-4ae1-a0b8-007be31bffaf-panel-2" aria-labelledby="ub-tabbed-content-630b96f1-ca1d-4ae1-a0b8-007be31bffaf-tab-2" tabindex="0" data-tab-anchor="consultations"> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Privacy Risk Consultations</h2> <p>Some library patrons require assistance beyond general information literacy. Their needs for privacy are high-stakes—if they fail, the consequences could be serious.</p> <p>For these members of the Cornell community, the Library offers individual consultations to help reduce risk and/or protect anonymity. The following are examples of situations that might prompt a request for a specialized consultation: </p> <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>Exposure to threats or harassment for one’s scholarly work.</li> <li>Digital communication with human subjects whose anonymity must be protected.</li> <li>Living in, working in, or visiting countries with restrictive information-access regimes.</li> <li>Crossing the U.S. border.</li> <li>Personal identities with an increased risk of doxing, harassment, or surveillance.</li> </ul> <p>These consultations are treated with a high degree of confidentiality. However, there are limits to our ability to maintain confidentiality in the following instances: the individual is believed to be actively self-harming or potentially harming others; the welfare of minors is in involved; when we receive legal requests, as outlined in <a href="https://www.dfa.cornell.edu/policy/policies/acceptance-legal-papers">University Policy 4.13</a>.</p> <p>Email us at <a href="mailto:cul-privacy@cornell.edu">cul-privacy@cornell.edu</a> to schedule a consultation.</p> </div></div> </div> <div class="wp-block-ub-content-toggle" id="ub-content-toggle-d5f1bf60-3784-4fd3-8de2-adb914acb7f0" data-mobilecollapse="true" data-desktopcollapse="false"> <div id="cul" class="wp-block-ub-content-toggle-accordion"> <div class="wp-block-ub-content-toggle-accordion-title-wrap"" aria-controls="ub-content-toggle-panel-0-d5f1bf60-3784-4fd3-8de2-adb914acb7f0" tabindex="0"> <h2 class="wp-block-ub-content-toggle-accordion-title ub-content-toggle-title-d5f1bf60-3784-4fd3-8de2-adb914acb7f0">Privacy and Confidentiality at Cornell University Library</h2><div class="wp-block-ub-content-toggle-accordion-toggle-wrap right"><span class="wp-block-ub-content-toggle-accordion-state-indicator wp-block-ub-chevron-down"></span> </div></div><div role="region" aria-expanded="false" class="wp-block-ub-content-toggle-accordion-content-wrap ub-hide" id="ub-content-toggle-panel-0-d5f1bf60-3784-4fd3-8de2-adb914acb7f0"> <p>We believe strongly in protecting the privacy of all who use our services, in person and online. This includes our patron’s right to read anonymously. Consequently, our staff members hold in confidence to the extent allowable by law all information about individual users and their choices of research or study material. Please help us protect your friends’ and colleagues’ right to privacy, and your right, by not asking staff members for this kind of information.</p> <p>New York State law (NY CPLR § 4509) protects the confidentiality of library records including, but not limited to, the circulation of library materials, database searches, interlibrary loan transactions, reference queries, requests for photocopies of library materials, reserve requests, and the use of audiovisual materials, films, and sound recordings. Such records are to be confidential and can only be disclosed with the user’s consent or in response to a subpoena, court order, or other legal requirements. Library patrons should be aware that Federal legislation (USA PATRIOT Act of 2001, The USA Freedom Act) has expanded the circumstances under which a federal agent may request patron records held by the Library; if such records are requested by federal authorities, the Library is prohibited by law from notifying the patron of that request. The Library forwards any law enforcement requests for patron records to the Office of the University Counsel in accordance with University Policy 4.13, <a href="https://www.dfa.cornell.edu/policy/policies/acceptance-legal-papers">Acceptance of Legal Papers</a>.</p> <p>To safeguard your privacy, the Library has in place procedures that minimize instances of the retention of Library records.  In addition, the Library follows relevant Cornell policies, including University Policy 4.5, <a href="https://www.dfa.cornell.edu/policy/policies/access-student-information">Access to Student Information</a>, University Policy 4.12, <a href="https://policy.cornell.edu/policy-library/data-stewardship-and-custodianship">Data Stewardship and Custodianship</a>, University Policy 4.13, <a href="https://www.dfa.cornell.edu/policy/policies/acceptance-legal-papers">Acceptance of Legal Papers</a>, and University Policy 5.9, <a href="https://policy.cornell.edu/policy-library/access-information-technology-data-and-monitoring-network-transmissions">Access to Information Technology Data and Monitoring Network Transmissions</a>.</p> <p>Information on how the Library implements the policy outlined above is found in our description of <a href="#pii">Library practices on the collection, use, disclosure, maintenance, and protection of personally identifiable information</a>.</p> </div></div> <div id="pii" class="wp-block-ub-content-toggle-accordion"> <div class="wp-block-ub-content-toggle-accordion-title-wrap"" aria-controls="ub-content-toggle-panel-1-d5f1bf60-3784-4fd3-8de2-adb914acb7f0" tabindex="0"> <h2 class="wp-block-ub-content-toggle-accordion-title ub-content-toggle-title-d5f1bf60-3784-4fd3-8de2-adb914acb7f0">Personally Identifiable Information in the Library</h2><div class="wp-block-ub-content-toggle-accordion-toggle-wrap right"><span class="wp-block-ub-content-toggle-accordion-state-indicator wp-block-ub-chevron-down"></span> </div></div><div role="region" aria-expanded="false" class="wp-block-ub-content-toggle-accordion-content-wrap ub-hide" id="ub-content-toggle-panel-1-d5f1bf60-3784-4fd3-8de2-adb914acb7f0"> <p>The sections below provide details about our collection, use, disclosure, maintenance, and protection of personally identifiable information that you provide to us. Note that these are general principles; individual sites may have their own specific privacy policies to which links are provided. In addition, the Library also employs third-party services that may have their own privacy policies. Some of these are discussed below, but you are encouraged to read the description of their privacy practices on their own web sites.</p> <p>In addition to disclosing how we collect, use, maintain, and protect our patrons’ privacy, we also provide <a href="#consultations">Privacy Services</a> to guide you in the private exploration and experimentation necessary to pursue scholarly and creative endeavors.</p> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Protecting Your Information</h3> <p>No method of transmitting over the Internet or storing electronic data is 100 percent secure, but this site has measures in place to help protect against the loss, misuse, or alteration of the information that is under our control.</p> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Websites</h3> <p>When you use websites under the control of the Library, certain technical information from your web browser is captured in a web activity log. This information normally includes:</p> <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>IP address</li> <li>Type and version of operating system and browser used</li> <li>Date and time of access</li> <li>Pages visited</li> <li>Search queries and result sets</li> <li>Referring URL (the web address of the page from which you followed a link to our site)</li> </ul> <p>The Library uses this information to diagnose and solve problems with our services and to identify and resolve problems with computer security. Raw log files are normally maintained for 90 days for security purposes. For some sites, an aggregated abstract of the data is prepared each night that anonymizes session data so that searches cannot be linked to specific IP addresses or network IDs. This data is then used to analyze and improve system features.</p> <p>For more information on web privacy, see the <a href="https://privacy.cornell.edu/">University Privacy Office website</a>.</p> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Cookies and Google Analytics</h3> <p>Cookies are small text files that a website uploads to your computer in order to uniquely identify your browser. Users whose computers accept cookies can store their preferences and access certain features of the website more efficiently after the first visit. They also allow us to improve our services by better tracking how our websites are used. You may configure your browser to disable the use of cookies. Some features of our websites may not function properly, however, if you block the acceptance of cookies.</p> <p>In 2009, in order to better understand how visitors engage with our websites, the Library began to use <a href="http://code.google.com/apis/analytics/">Google Analytics</a> on some of its sites. Google Analytics employs first-party cookies for data analysis, and will only use that cookie data for statistical analysis related to your browsing behavior on the Library’s websites. According to Google, the data collected is anonymous and cannot be altered or retrieved by services from other domains. As with the library’s cookies, Google Analytics can be disabled by turning off cookies in the preferences settings in your browser. Note that pages monitored with Google Analytics also contain some javascript that allows Google Analytics to track anonymously your actions on the monitored site.</p> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">HTTPS</h3> <p>When you search or browse our Library websites or databases, it is theoretically possible that someone else on the Cornell University network could “eavesdrop” on your activities (though this is a violation of Cornell University policy). This is because most data on the Internet is transmitted in clear text. One way to avoid this is to use an encrypted SSL connection using the “https” prefix. Both the <a href="https://catalog.library.cornell.edu/">library catalog</a> and <a href="https://cornell.worldcat.org/">WorldCat Local catalog</a> support HTTPS searches. If you are concerned that someone on the network system may be eavesdropping on your searches, use either one, but change the prefix to https:// before you start your search. You should be aware that even if you use an https connection, the Library cannot guarantee that submissions to our websites, any content residing on our servers, or any transmission from our servers will be completely secure.</p> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">External Website Links</h3> <p>From time-to-time, we will link to external websites that we neither own nor control. Cornell University is not responsible for the content, privacy practices, or web accessibility needs on these websites.</p> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Social Media Presence</h3> <p>If you share our content through social media, such as liking us on Facebook or posting about us on X, those social networks will record that you have done so and may set a cookie for this purpose.</p> <p>If you with to opt-out of any of these social interactions, please refer to the specific social media platform for instructions on how to do so.</p> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Circulation</h3> <p>The Library respects the privacy of all borrowers of library materials. We will not reveal the names of individual borrowers nor reveal what books are, or have been, charged to any individual except as required by law. Only staff members who have a functional need to view circulation data can view who has borrowed a book.</p> <p>The Library seeks to protect user privacy by purging borrowing records as soon as possible. In general, the link connecting a patron with a borrowed item is broken once the item is returned. The exception is when a bill for the item is generated. In that case, the information on who borrowed the item is retained indefinitely in our system. For security reasons, records of who requested items from the Library’s special collections are also retained indefinitely.</p> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Interlibrary Loan and ScanIt</h3> <p>Interlibrary Loan lending and borrowing records have been retained since at least 2001. All such records are treated confidentially. In some cases, information about requests (including the name of the requestor) is shared within the library staff for collection development purposes, but staff are instructed not to further disseminate such information. If you do not want your interlibrary loan request used for collection development purposes, you may so indicate in the “Notes” section of the request form.</p> <p>The Library at times compiles aggregate data for internal business purposes and to improve Library services, but whenever this happens, all personally-identifiable information is first stripped from the requests.</p> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Collection Development</h3> <p>Purchase requests and items on-order or in-process requested by patrons are linked in the catalog system to the names of users so that they can notified when the items are ready to circulate. Such information is deemed confidential reader information and is not shared outside the Library. As noted above, collection development staff may also receive copies of Interlibrary Loan requests. Such information is used purely for internal operational purposes and is not shared outside the library.</p> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Personalized Services</h3> <p>Some library services require you to provide personal information. If you are asked to provide, and do provide, personal information, the Library will explain why we ask for the information and will use such information for those specific and limited purposes. Information from other sources is not combined with that information. The Library will not sell, share, or otherwise distribute your personal data to third parties without your consent.</p> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Reference Inquiries</h3> <p>You may ask questions of library staff by phone, mail, text, email, chat, and in person. All such inquiries are treated as <a href="/get-help/ask/chat/">confidential</a>. Depending on the library unit, records with patron identifications may be kept for a few months or indefinitely. Reference questions may be posted to the Ask a Librarian blog, but only with the permission of the person asking the questions and only with all personal information removed.</p> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Licensed Resources and Services</h3> <p>More and more, the Library outsources systems and services to third-party vendors. Most of the digital resources that we offer, for example, come from outside suppliers, as does the current <a href="https://catalog.library.cornell.edu/">library catalog</a>. The Library expects the information service providers with whom we contract to protect the identity of individual users and the information they use. We commonly require, for example that vendors agree not to sell or license information from library users to third parties. Many vendors provide additional personalized services that may require you to identify yourself with your name or a pseudonym. In general, this is done at your discretion; the Library seeks to avoid products that demand personalization.</p> <p>While the Library seeks to require third parties with which it works to follow accepted library policies regarding privacy and confidentiality, it is not responsible for the privacy practices of these third parties. We encourage users to familiarize themselves with third party privacy policies before using the resources.</p> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Library Surveys and Assessment Projects</h3> <p>Information and data obtained by the Library or its units through surveys (group or individual interviews or other means) in support of assessment of services, collections, facilities, resources, etc., or in support of research related to library and information services, are considered confidential and will not be shared except in aggregations, to protect the privacy of individual participants. When required, surveys are conducted in accordance with the policies of Cornell’s <a href="http://www.irb.cornell.edu/">Institutional Review Board for Human Participants</a>.</p> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Children under 13</h3> <p>The Library does not knowingly request, collect, or share personally identifiable information from users under the age of 13.</p> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Contact</h3> <p>If you have questions about the Library’s practices regarding privacy and confidentiality, please contact <a href="mailto:cul-privacy@cornell.edu">cul-privacy@cornell.edu</a>.</p> </div></div> <div id="requests" class="wp-block-ub-content-toggle-accordion"> <div class="wp-block-ub-content-toggle-accordion-title-wrap"" aria-controls="ub-content-toggle-panel-2-d5f1bf60-3784-4fd3-8de2-adb914acb7f0" tabindex="0"> <h2 class="wp-block-ub-content-toggle-accordion-title ub-content-toggle-title-d5f1bf60-3784-4fd3-8de2-adb914acb7f0">Requests for Patron Information</h2><div class="wp-block-ub-content-toggle-accordion-toggle-wrap right"><span class="wp-block-ub-content-toggle-accordion-state-indicator wp-block-ub-chevron-down"></span> </div></div><div role="region" aria-expanded="false" class="wp-block-ub-content-toggle-accordion-content-wrap ub-hide" id="ub-content-toggle-panel-2-d5f1bf60-3784-4fd3-8de2-adb914acb7f0"> <p>As stated in our policy on Privacy and Confidentiality at Cornell University Library, we protect the privacy of all who use our services, in person and online. We will deny all requests for patron information, with limited exceptions. The sections below detail what constitutes protected patron information, and the procedure for library staff for handling requests for patron information.</p> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Patron Information That Is Protected</h3> <p>Pursuant to NY CPLR § 4509 the following is protected patron information:</p> <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li><em>Library records, which contain names or other personally identifying details regarding the users of public, free association, school, college and university libraries and library systems of this state, including but not limited to records related to the circulation of library materials, computer database searches, interlibrary loan transactions, reference queries, requests for photocopies of library materials, title reserve requests, or the use of audio-visual materials, films or records.</em></li> </ul> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Library Procedure for Handling Requests for Patron Information</h3> <p>If a request for patron information is made, regardless of who is making the request and for what purpose, the request must be denied unless it falls under one of the following exceptions, stated in NY CPLR § 4509:</p> <p><em>Disclosure to the extent necessary for the proper operation of library activities.</em></p> <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>Procedure note: An example of where disclosure would be allowed under this exception is information sharing necessary for staff to determine library routing of patron-requested materials. An example of where disclosure is not allowed under this exception would be a faculty member or student patron request for identifying information of another patron who is in possession of library material that the requesting faculty member or student patron wishes to obtain.</li> </ul> <p><em>Disclosure upon written consent of the user whose information is to be disclosed.</em></p> <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>Procedure note: If user is a minor or ward, the user’s parents or guardians must give written consent. Written consents must be collected by library staff prior to disclosure, and kept for review and record keeping by the administration in each library unit.</li> </ul> <p><em>Disclosure upon court order or subpoena.</em></p> <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>Procedure note: University Policy 4.13 <a href="https://policy.cornell.edu/sites/default/files/policy/vol4_13.pdf">Acceptance of Legal Papers (PDF)</a> requires all university employees, including library staff, to direct anyone attempting to serve legal papers pertaining to the university to the Office of University Counsel. If approached by a law enforcement official who requests protected patron information from library records, or requests library cooperation to obtain protected patron information, library staff must inform the law enforcement officer that they are not authorized to accept legal papers on behalf of the university, and refer the individual to the Office of University Counsel. Staff should request the individual’s name and agency and then report this information to their immediate supervisor, who will in turn advise Library Administration. The University Librarian or any available AUL will communicate immediately with the Office of University Counsel that they should expect legal papers to be served upon them.</li> <li>If the law enforcement officer insists on leaving papers with library staff, they must immediately refer the officer to the staff member’s immediate supervisor. If the immediate supervisor is unavailable, staff will refer the law enforcement official to the Library Administration Office in Olin Library, Room 201 (607.255.3393). The University Librarian or any available AUL will respond to the request and immediately contact the Office of University Counsel.</li> </ul> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Special Notice for EEA Residents</h3> <p>If you are located within the European Economic Area (European Union, Norway, Liechtenstein, and Iceland), we acknowledge the rights granted to you under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).</p> <p>These rights may include the right to:</p> <ol class="wp-block-list"> <li>access your information held by us;</li> <li>correct inaccurate or incorrect information about you;</li> <li>the erasure of your information when it is no longer necessary for us to retain it;</li> <li>restrict processing of your personal information in specific situations;</li> <li>object to processing your information, including sending you communications that may be considered direct-marketing materials;</li> <li>object to automated decision-making and profiling, where applicable; and/or</li> <li>complain to a supervisory authority in your jurisdiction within the EU.</li> </ol> <p>Please <a href="https://privacy.cornell.edu/webform/contact-us#no-back">contact us</a> with any questions, concerns, or if you wish to exercise any of these rights.</p> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Effective Date of Privacy Notice</h3> <p>This privacy notice was last revised on February 12, 2020.</p> </div></div> <div id="computing" class="wp-block-ub-content-toggle-accordion"> <div class="wp-block-ub-content-toggle-accordion-title-wrap"" aria-controls="ub-content-toggle-panel-3-d5f1bf60-3784-4fd3-8de2-adb914acb7f0" tabindex="0"> <h2 class="wp-block-ub-content-toggle-accordion-title ub-content-toggle-title-d5f1bf60-3784-4fd3-8de2-adb914acb7f0">Privacy and Public Computing </h2><div class="wp-block-ub-content-toggle-accordion-toggle-wrap right"><span class="wp-block-ub-content-toggle-accordion-state-indicator wp-block-ub-chevron-down"></span> </div></div><div role="region" aria-expanded="false" class="wp-block-ub-content-toggle-accordion-content-wrap ub-hide" id="ub-content-toggle-panel-3-d5f1bf60-3784-4fd3-8de2-adb914acb7f0"> <p>To help maintain user privacy and confidentiality, we provide computer systems that have anonymous logins and that are programmed to return the kiosk to its original state when restarted. Our computers are also set up to restart after a period of inactivity to help ensure that no identifying information is left behind by the user.</p> <p>A list of public computers available at the Library can be found on the <a href="/libraries/policies/public-computing/">public computing policies</a> page.</p> <p>Email us at <a href="mailto:cul-privacy@cornell.edu?subject=Public%20Computing">cul-privacy@cornell.edu</a> for questions or concerns about public computing.</p> </div></div> </div> <script> document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', (event) => { const accordionTitleWraps = document.querySelectorAll('.wp-block-ub-content-toggle-accordion-title-wrap'); accordionTitleWraps.forEach((titleWrap, index) => { const contentWrap = titleWrap.nextElementSibling; titleWrap.setAttribute('role', 'button'); titleWrap.setAttribute('aria-controls', contentWrap.id); contentWrap.setAttribute('aria-labelledby', `accordion-header-${index}`); titleWrap.setAttribute('aria-expanded', contentWrap.getAttribute('aria-expanded')); // Create a MutationObserver instance const observer = new MutationObserver((mutations) => { mutations.forEach((mutation) => { if (mutation.type === 'attributes' && mutation.attributeName === 'aria-expanded') { titleWrap.setAttribute('aria-expanded', contentWrap.getAttribute('aria-expanded')); } }); }); observer.observe(contentWrap, { attributes: true }); }); }); </script> </div> </article> </section> <section class="sidebar"> <nav> <h2> Commitment to Privacy</h2> <ul> </ul> </nav> </section> </main> <footer class="site-footer"> <a class="feedback" href="https://cornell.libwizard.com/f/feedback?&4589755=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.library.cornell.edu%2Fabout%2Fcommitment-to-privacy%2F">Send us feedback</a> <nav aria-label="Footer"> <section class="nav-search-subscribe" aria-label="Search this site"> <form class="footer-search" role="search" method="get" action="https://www.library.cornell.edu/"> <label class="sr-only" for="footer__search-field">Search this site </label> <input id="footer__search-field" type="search" class="footer-search-field " placeholder="Search this site " autocomplete="off" autocorrect="off" autocapitalize="off" value="" name="s"> <button type="submit">Search</button> </form> </section> <section class="nav-library" aria-label="Library main sections"> <h2>MENU</h2> <ul> <li><a href="/about">About</a></li> <li><a href="/libraries">Libraries</a></li> <li><a href="/get-help">Get Help</a></li> <li><a href="/study">Study</a></li> <li><a href="/collections">Collections</a></li> <li><a href="/research-teaching">Research and Teaching</a></li> </ul> </section> <section class="nav-resources" aria-label="Library resources"> <h2>SEARCH</h2> <ul> <li><a href="https://catalog.library.cornell.edu/">Catalog</a></li> <li><a href="https://discovery.ebsco.com/c/u2yil2"> Articles and Full Text</a></li> <li><a href="https://catalog.library.cornell.edu/databases">Databases</a></li> <li><a href="http://erms.library.cornell.edu/"> E-journal Titles</a></li> <li><a href="/collections/visual-resources">Images</a></li> </ul> </section> <section class="nav-popular" aria-label="Popular Links"> <h2>POPULAR LINKS</h2> <ul> <li><a href="http://cornell-borrowdirect.reshare.indexdata.com/">Borrow Direct</a></li> <li><a href="https://cornell.hosts.atlas-sys.com/ILLiad/illiad.dll">Interlibrary Loan</a></li> <li><a href="/collections/off-campus-access/">Off-Campus Access</a></li> <li><a href="/study/citation-management/">Citation Management</a></li> <li><a href="/about/events/workshops/">Workshops</a></li> <li><a href="https://guides.library.cornell.edu/home">Research Guides</a></li> <li><a href="https://alumni.library.cornell.edu">Alumni Access</a></li> </ul> </section> <section class="nav-cornell" aria-label="Help links and emergency information"> <h2>HELP</h2> <ul> <li><a href="/ask">Ask a Librarian</a></li> <li><a href="https://emergency.cornell.edu/">Emergency Preparedness</a></li> <li><a href="https://guides.library.cornell.edu/librarysearch/catalog">Search Tips</a></li> <li><a href="https://guides.library.cornell.edu/librarysearch/connecting">Trouble Connecting</a></li> </ul> </section> </nav> <section class="social-media" aria-label="Social media"> <ul> <li><a href="https://www.instagram.com/cornell_library/" title="instagram"> <i class="fa-brands fa-instagram" aria-hidden="true"><span class="sr-only">instagram</span></i> </a></li> <li><a href="http://www.facebook.com/cornelluniversitylibrary" title="facebook"> <i class="fa-brands fa-facebook-f" aria-hidden="true"><span class="sr-only">Facebook</span></i> </a></li> <li><a href="https://twitter.com/intent/follow?original_referer=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.library.cornell.edu%2Findex&region=follow_link&screen_name=Cornell_Library&tw_p=followbutton&variant=2.0" title="twitter"> <i class="fa-brands fa-x-twitter" aria-hidden="true"><span class="sr-only">Twitter</span></i> </a></li> <li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/@cornelllibrary" title="YouTube"> <i class="fa-brands fa-youtube" aria-hidden="true"><span class="sr-only">YouTube</span></i> </a></li> </ul> </section> <p class="give-2-library"><a href="http://alumni.library.cornell.edu/give-library">Give to the Library</a></p> <p><small><a href="/copyright">© 2024</a> Cornell University Library, Ithaca, NY 14853 | 607-255-4144 | <a href="/privacy">Privacy</a> | <a href="/web-accessibility/">Web Accessibility Assistance</a> | <a href="/wp-login.php">Staff Login</a></small> </footer> </div>  <script> var _paq = window._paq = window._paq || []; /* tracker methods like "setCustomDimension" should be called before "trackPageView" */ _paq.push(['trackPageView']); _paq.push(['trackAllContentImpressions']); _paq.push(['enableLinkTracking']); (function() { var u="https://matomo.library.cornell.edu/"; _paq.push(['setTrackerUrl', u+'piwik.php']); _paq.push(['setSiteId', '1']); var d=document, g=d.createElement('script'), s=d.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; g.async=true; g.src=u+'piwik.js'; s.parentNode.insertBefore(g,s); })(); </script>  <style> /* UB Block Accordion */ .wp-block-ub-content-toggle-accordion-title { font-size: 1.1em; font-weight: normal; } .wp-block-ub-content-toggle-accordion { border-radius: 0 0 6px 6px; } .wp-block-ub-content-toggle-accordion-title-wrap[aria-expanded="false"] { background-color: #F7F7F7 !important; } .wp-block-ub-content-toggle-accordion-title-wrap[aria-expanded="false"] .wp-block-ub-content-toggle-accordion-title { color: #000 !important; } .wp-block-ub-content-toggle-accordion-title-wrap[aria-expanded="false"] .wp-block-ub-content-toggle-accordion-state-indicator { color: #000; } /* .wp-block-ub-content-toggle-accordion-title-wrap[aria-expanded="true"] { background-color: #B31B1B !important; } .wp-block-ub-content-toggle-accordion-title-wrap[aria-expanded="true"] .wp-block-ub-content-toggle-accordion-title { color: #fff !important; } .wp-block-ub-content-toggle-accordion-title-wrap[aria-expanded="true"] .wp-block-ub-content-toggle-accordion-state-indicator { color: #fff; } */ /* UB Block Tabbed Content Horizontal */ .wp-block-ub-tabbed-content .wp-block-ub-tabbed-content-tabs-content { border-radius: 0 0 6px 6px !important; } .wp-block-ub-tabbed-content-tab-title-wrap.active { background-color: #B31B1B !important; } .wp-block-ub-tabbed-content-tab-title-wrap.active .wp-block-ub-tabbed-content-tab-title { color: #fff !important; } .wp-block-ub-tabbed-content-tab-title-wrap { background-color: #F7F7F7 !important; } .wp-block-ub-tabbed-content-tab-title-wrap .wp-block-ub-tabbed-content-tab-title { color: #000 !important; } /* UB Block Tabbed Content Vertical */ .wp-block-ub-tabbed-content-tab-title-vertical-wrap.active { background-color: #B31B1B !important; } .wp-block-ub-tabbed-content-tab-title-vertical-wrap.active .wp-block-ub-tabbed-content-tab-title { color: #fff !important; } .wp-block-ub-tabbed-content-tab-title-vertical-wrap { background-color: #F7F7F7 !important; } .wp-block-ub-tabbed-content-tab-title-vertical-wrap .wp-block-ub-tabbed-content-tab-title { color: #000 !important; } /* UB Block Styled Box */ .book-talks-links a { color: black !important; } /* UB Block Styled Box */ .book-talks-links a:hover { color: black !important; text-decoration: underline !important; } /* * UB Block Styled Box - Alert Box * primary-alert-bock * secondary-alert-box * success-alert-box * danger-alert-box * warning-alert-box * info-alert-box * light-alert-box * dark-alert-box */ .ub-styled-box.ub-notification-box.primary-alert-bock { color: #004085 !important; background-color: #cce5ff !important; border-left-color: #004085 !important; } .ub-styled-box.ub-notification-box.secondary-alert-box { color: #383d41 !important; background-color: #e2e3e5 !important; border-left-color: #383d41 !important; } .ub-styled-box.ub-notification-box.success-alert-box { color: #155724 !important; background-color: #d4edda !important; border-left-color: #155724 !important; } .ub-styled-box.ub-notification-box.danger-alert-box { color: #721c24 !important; background-color: #f8d7da !important; border-left-color: #721c24 !important; } .ub-styled-box.ub-notification-box.warning-alert-box { color: #856404 !important; background-color: #fff3cd !important; border-left-color: #856404 !important; } .ub-styled-box.ub-notification-box.info-alert-box { color: #0c5460 !important; background-color: #d1ecf1 !important; border-left-color: #0c5460 !important; } .ub-styled-box.ub-notification-box.light-alert-box { color: #818182 !important; background-color: #fefefe !important; border-left-color: #818182 !important; } .ub-styled-box.ub-notification-box.dark-alert-box { color: #1b1e21 !important; background-color: #d6d8d9 !important; border-left-color: #1b1e21 !important; } .ub-styled-box.ub-notification-box.primary-alert-bock a, .ub-styled-box.ub-notification-box.secondary-alert-box a, .ub-styled-box.ub-notification-box.success-alert-box a, .ub-styled-box.ub-notification-box.danger-alert-box a, .ub-styled-box.ub-notification-box.warning-alert-box a, .ub-styled-box.ub-notification-box.info-alert-box a, .ub-styled-box.ub-notification-box.dark-alert-box a { color: black !important; } .ub-styled-box.ub-notification-box.primary-alert-bock a:hover, .ub-styled-box.ub-notification-box.secondary-alert-box a:hover, .ub-styled-box.ub-notification-box.success-alert-box a:hover, .ub-styled-box.ub-notification-box.danger-alert-box a:hover, .ub-styled-box.ub-notification-box.warning-alert-box a:hover, .ub-styled-box.ub-notification-box.info-alert-box a:hover, .ub-styled-box.ub-notification-box.dark-alert-box a:hover { text-decoration: underline !important; } /* UB Table of Contents */ .ub_table-of-contents-extra-container { padding-top: 0; } </style><link rel='stylesheet' id='cul-print-style-css' href='https://www.library.cornell.edu/wp-content/themes/cul-theme/sass/print/print.css?ver=6.7.1.1725917191' media='print' /> <script src="https://www.library.cornell.edu/wp-content/plugins/ultimate-blocks/src/blocks/content-toggle/front.build.js?ver=3.2.5.1725917191" id="ultimate_blocks-content-toggle-front-script-js"></script> <script src="https://www.library.cornell.edu/wp-content/plugins/ultimate-blocks/src/blocks/tabbed-content/front.build.js?ver=3.2.5.1725917191" id="ultimate_blocks-tabbed-content-front-script-js"></script> <script src="https://widgetlogic.org/v2/js/data.js?t=1732752000&ver=6.0.0.1725917191" id="widget-logic_live_match_widget-js"></script> <script src="https://www.library.cornell.edu/wp-content/themes/cul-theme/js/navigation.js?ver=1.0.0.1725917191" id="_cul-announcement-js"></script> <script src="https://www.library.cornell.edu/wp-content/themes/cul-theme/js/tools/short-string.js?ver=1.0.0.1725917191" id="_cul-truncate-js"></script> <script src="https://www.library.cornell.edu/wp-content/themes/cul-theme/js/announcement-banner.js?ver=20300317.1725917191" id="_cul-notifications-js"></script> <script src="https://www.library.cornell.edu/wp-content/themes/cul-theme/js/quick-links.js?ver=20500318.1725917191" id="_cul-quick-links-js"></script> <script src="https://www.library.cornell.edu/wp-content/themes/cul-theme/js/search-radio.js?ver=20151216.1725917191" id="_cul-search-js"></script> <script src="https://www.library.cornell.edu/wp-content/themes/cul-theme/js/facets.js?ver=20151217.1725917191" id="_cul-facet-js"></script> <script src="https://www.library.cornell.edu/wp-content/themes/cul-theme/js/events.js?ver=1.0.0.1725917191" id="_cul-events-js"></script> <script type="text/javascript"> /* <![CDATA[ */ document.querySelectorAll("ul.nav-menu").forEach( ulist => { if (ulist.querySelectorAll("li").length == 0) { ulist.style.display = "none"; } } ); /* ]]> */ </script> <script type="application/ld+json">{ "@context":"http://schema.org/", "@type":"FAQPage", "mainEntity": [{"@type":"Question","name":"Privacy and Confidentiality at Cornell University Library","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"<p>We believe strongly in protecting the privacy of all who use our services, in person and online. This includes our patron's right to read anonymously. Consequently, our staff members hold in confidence to the extent allowable by law all information about individual users and their choices of research or study material. Please help us protect your friends' and colleagues' right to privacy, and your right, by not asking staff members for this kind of information.</p> <p>New York State law (NY CPLR \u00a7 4509) protects the confidentiality of library records including, but not limited to, the circulation of library materials, database searches, interlibrary loan transactions, reference queries, requests for photocopies of library materials, reserve requests, and the use of audiovisual materials, films, and sound recordings. Such records are to be confidential and can only be disclosed with the user\u2019s consent or in response to a subpoena, court order, or other legal requirements. Library patrons should be aware that Federal legislation (USA PATRIOT Act of 2001, The USA Freedom Act) has expanded the circumstances under which a federal agent may request patron records held by the Library; if such records are requested by federal authorities, the Library is prohibited by law from notifying the patron of that request. The Library forwards any law enforcement requests for patron records to the Office of the University Counsel in accordance with University Policy 4.13, <a href='https://www.dfa.cornell.edu/policy/policies/acceptance-legal-papers'>Acceptance of Legal Papers</a>.</p> <p>To safeguard your privacy, the Library has in place procedures that minimize instances of the retention of Library records.  In addition, the Library follows relevant Cornell policies, including University Policy 4.5, <a href='https://www.dfa.cornell.edu/policy/policies/access-student-information'>Access to Student Information</a>, University Policy 4.12, <a href='https://policy.cornell.edu/policy-library/data-stewardship-and-custodianship'>Data Stewardship and Custodianship</a>, University Policy 4.13, <a href='https://www.dfa.cornell.edu/policy/policies/acceptance-legal-papers'>Acceptance of Legal Papers</a>, and University Policy 5.9, <a href='https://policy.cornell.edu/policy-library/access-information-technology-data-and-monitoring-network-transmissions'>Access to Information Technology Data and Monitoring Network Transmissions</a>.</p> <p>Information on how the Library implements the policy outlined above is found in our description of <a href='#pii'>Library practices on the collection, use, disclosure, maintenance, and protection of personally identifiable information</a>.</p>"}},{"@type":"Question","name":"Personally Identifiable Information in the Library","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"<p>The sections below provide details about our collection, use, disclosure, maintenance, and protection of personally identifiable information that you provide to us. Note that these are general principles; individual sites may have their own specific privacy policies to which links are provided. In addition, the Library also employs third-party services that may have their own privacy policies. Some of these are discussed below, but you are encouraged to read the description of their privacy practices on their own web sites.</p> <p>In addition to disclosing how we collect, use, maintain, and protect our patrons\u2019 privacy, we also provide <a href='#consultations'>Privacy Services</a> to guide you in the private exploration and experimentation necessary to pursue scholarly and creative endeavors.</p> <h3>Protecting Your Information</h3> <p>No method of transmitting over the Internet or storing electronic data is 100 percent secure, but this site has measures in place to help protect against the loss, misuse, or alteration of the information that is under our control.</p> <h3>Websites</h3> <p>When you use websites under the control of the Library, certain technical information from your web browser is captured in a web activity log. This information normally includes:</p> <ul> <li>IP address</li> <li>Type and version of operating system and browser used</li> <li>Date and time of access</li> <li>Pages visited</li> <li>Search queries and result sets</li> <li>Referring URL (the web address of the page from which you followed a link to our site)</li> </ul> <p>The Library uses this information to diagnose and solve problems with our services and to identify and resolve problems with computer security. Raw log files are normally maintained for 90 days for security purposes. For some sites, an aggregated abstract of the data is prepared each night that anonymizes session data so that searches cannot be linked to specific IP addresses or network IDs. This data is then used to analyze and improve system features.</p> <p>For more information on web privacy, see the <a href='https://privacy.cornell.edu/'>University Privacy Office website</a>.</p> <h3>Cookies and Google Analytics</h3> <p>Cookies are small text files that a website uploads to your computer in order to uniquely identify your browser. Users whose computers accept cookies can store their preferences and access certain features of the website more efficiently after the first visit. They also allow us to improve our services by better tracking how our websites are used. You may configure your browser to disable the use of cookies. Some features of our websites may not function properly, however, if you block the acceptance of cookies.</p> <p>In 2009, in order to better understand how visitors engage with our websites, the Library began to use <a href='http://code.google.com/apis/analytics/'>Google Analytics</a> on some of its sites. Google Analytics employs first-party cookies for data analysis, and will only use that cookie data for statistical analysis related to your browsing behavior on the Library's websites. According to Google, the data collected is anonymous and cannot be altered or retrieved by services from other domains. As with the library\u2019s cookies, Google Analytics can be disabled by turning off cookies in the preferences settings in your browser. Note that pages monitored with Google Analytics also contain some javascript that allows Google Analytics to track anonymously your actions on the monitored site.</p> <h3>HTTPS</h3> <p>When you search or browse our Library websites or databases, it is theoretically possible that someone else on the Cornell University network could \u201ceavesdrop\u201d on your activities (though this is a violation of Cornell University policy). This is because most data on the Internet is transmitted in clear text. One way to avoid this is to use an encrypted SSL connection using the \u201chttps\u201d prefix. Both the <a href='https://catalog.library.cornell.edu/'>library catalog</a> and <a href='https://cornell.worldcat.org/'>WorldCat Local catalog</a> support HTTPS searches. If you are concerned that someone on the network system may be eavesdropping on your searches, use either one, but change the prefix to https:// before you start your search. You should be aware that even if you use an https connection, the Library cannot guarantee that submissions to our websites, any content residing on our servers, or any transmission from our servers will be completely secure.</p> <h3>External Website Links</h3> <p>From time-to-time, we will link to external websites that we neither own nor control. Cornell University is not responsible for the content, privacy practices, or web accessibility needs on these websites.</p> <h3>Social Media Presence</h3> <p>If you share our content through social media, such as liking us on Facebook or posting about us on X, those social networks will record that you have done so and may set a cookie for this purpose.</p> <p>If you with to opt-out of any of these social interactions, please refer to the specific social media platform for instructions on how to do so.</p> <h3>Circulation</h3> <p>The Library respects the privacy of all borrowers of library materials. We will not reveal the names of individual borrowers nor reveal what books are, or have been, charged to any individual except as required by law. Only staff members who have a functional need to view circulation data can view who has borrowed a book.</p> <p>The Library seeks to protect user privacy by purging borrowing records as soon as possible. In general, the link connecting a patron with a borrowed item is broken once the item is returned. The exception is when a bill for the item is generated. In that case, the information on who borrowed the item is retained indefinitely in our system. For security reasons, records of who requested items from the Library\u2019s special collections are also retained indefinitely.</p> <h3>Interlibrary Loan and ScanIt</h3> <p>Interlibrary Loan lending and borrowing records have been retained since at least 2001. All such records are treated confidentially. In some cases, information about requests (including the name of the requestor) is shared within the library staff for collection development purposes, but staff are instructed not to further disseminate such information. If you do not want your interlibrary loan request used for collection development purposes, you may so indicate in the \u201cNotes\u201d section of the request form.</p> <p>The Library at times compiles aggregate data for internal business purposes and to improve Library services, but whenever this happens, all personally-identifiable information is first stripped from the requests.</p> <h3>Collection Development</h3> <p>Purchase requests and items on-order or in-process requested by patrons are linked in the catalog system to the names of users so that they can notified when the items are ready to circulate. Such information is deemed confidential reader information and is not shared outside the Library. As noted above, collection development staff may also receive copies of Interlibrary Loan requests. Such information is used purely for internal operational purposes and is not shared outside the library.</p> <h3>Personalized Services</h3> <p>Some library services require you to provide personal information. If you are asked to provide, and do provide, personal information, the Library will explain why we ask for the information and will use such information for those specific and limited purposes. Information from other sources is not combined with that information. The Library will not sell, share, or otherwise distribute your personal data to third parties without your consent.</p> <h3>Reference Inquiries</h3> <p>You may ask questions of library staff by phone, mail, text, email, chat, and in person. All such inquiries are treated as <a href='/get-help/ask/chat/'>confidential</a>. Depending on the library unit, records with patron identifications may be kept for a few months or indefinitely. Reference questions may be posted to the Ask a Librarian blog, but only with the permission of the person asking the questions and only with all personal information removed.</p> <h3>Licensed Resources and Services</h3> <p>More and more, the Library outsources systems and services to third-party vendors. Most of the digital resources that we offer, for example, come from outside suppliers, as does the current <a href='https://catalog.library.cornell.edu/'>library catalog</a>. The Library expects the information service providers with whom we contract to protect the identity of individual users and the information they use. We commonly require, for example that vendors agree not to sell or license information from library users to third parties. Many vendors provide additional personalized services that may require you to identify yourself with your name or a pseudonym. In general, this is done at your discretion; the Library seeks to avoid products that demand personalization.</p> <p>While the Library seeks to require third parties with which it works to follow accepted library policies regarding privacy and confidentiality, it is not responsible for the privacy practices of these third parties. We encourage users to familiarize themselves with third party privacy policies before using the resources.</p> <h3>Library Surveys and Assessment Projects</h3> <p>Information and data obtained by the Library or its units through surveys (group or individual interviews or other means) in support of assessment of services, collections, facilities, resources, etc., or in support of research related to library and information services, are considered confidential and will not be shared except in aggregations, to protect the privacy of individual participants. When required, surveys are conducted in accordance with the policies of Cornell\u2019s <a href='http://www.irb.cornell.edu/'>Institutional Review Board for Human Participants</a>.</p> <h3>Children under 13</h3> <p>The Library does not knowingly request, collect, or share personally identifiable information from users under the age of 13.</p> <h3>Contact</h3> <p>If you have questions about the Library\u2019s practices regarding privacy and confidentiality, please contact <a href='mailto:cul-privacy@cornell.edu'>cul-privacy@cornell.edu</a>.</p>"}},{"@type":"Question","name":"Requests for Patron Information","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"<p>As stated in our policy on Privacy and Confidentiality at Cornell University Library, we protect the privacy of all who use our services, in person and online. We will deny all requests for patron information, with limited exceptions. The sections below detail what constitutes protected patron information, and the procedure for library staff for handling requests for patron information.</p> <h3>Patron Information That Is Protected</h3> <p>Pursuant to NY CPLR \u00a7 4509 the following is protected patron information:</p> <ul> <li><em>Library records, which contain names or other personally identifying details regarding the users of public, free association, school, college and university libraries and library systems of this state, including but not limited to records related to the circulation of library materials, computer database searches, interlibrary loan transactions, reference queries, requests for photocopies of library materials, title reserve requests, or the use of audio-visual materials, films or records.</em></li> </ul> <h3>Library Procedure for Handling Requests for Patron Information</h3> <p>If a request for patron information is made, regardless of who is making the request and for what purpose, the request must be denied unless it falls under one of the following exceptions, stated in NY CPLR \u00a7 4509:</p> <p><em>Disclosure to the extent necessary for the proper operation of library activities.</em></p> <ul> <li>Procedure note: An example of where disclosure would be allowed under this exception is information sharing necessary for staff to determine library routing of patron-requested materials. An example of where disclosure is not allowed under this exception would be a faculty member or student patron request for identifying information of another patron who is in possession of library material that the requesting faculty member or student patron wishes to obtain.</li> </ul> <p><em>Disclosure upon written consent of the user whose information is to be disclosed.</em></p> <ul> <li>Procedure note: If user is a minor or ward, the user\u2019s parents or guardians must give written consent. Written consents must be collected by library staff prior to disclosure, and kept for review and record keeping by the administration in each library unit.</li> </ul> <p><em>Disclosure upon court order or subpoena.</em></p> <ul> <li>Procedure note: University Policy 4.13 <a href='https://policy.cornell.edu/sites/default/files/policy/vol4_13.pdf'>Acceptance of Legal Papers (PDF)</a> requires all university employees, including library staff, to direct anyone attempting to serve legal papers pertaining to the university to the Office of University Counsel. If approached by a law enforcement official who requests protected patron information from library records, or requests library cooperation to obtain protected patron information, library staff must inform the law enforcement officer that they are not authorized to accept legal papers on behalf of the university, and refer the individual to the Office of University Counsel. Staff should request the individual\u2019s name and agency and then report this information to their immediate supervisor, who will in turn advise Library Administration. The University Librarian or any available AUL will communicate immediately with the Office of University Counsel that they should expect legal papers to be served upon them.</li> <li>If the law enforcement officer insists on leaving papers with library staff, they must immediately refer the officer to the staff member\u2019s immediate supervisor. If the immediate supervisor is unavailable, staff will refer the law enforcement official to the Library Administration Office in Olin Library, Room 201 (607.255.3393). The University Librarian or any available AUL will respond to the request and immediately contact the Office of University Counsel.</li> </ul> <h3>Special Notice for EEA Residents</h3> <p>If you are located within the European Economic Area (European Union, Norway, Liechtenstein, and Iceland), we acknowledge the rights granted to you under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).</p> <p>These rights may include the right to:</p> <ol> <li>access your information held by us;</li> <li>correct inaccurate or incorrect information about you;</li> <li>the erasure of your information when it is no longer necessary for us to retain it;</li> <li>restrict processing of your personal information in specific situations;</li> <li>object to processing your information, including sending you communications that may be considered direct-marketing materials;</li> <li>object to automated decision-making and profiling, where applicable; and/or</li> <li>complain to a supervisory authority in your jurisdiction within the EU.</li> </ol> <p>Please <a href='https://privacy.cornell.edu/webform/contact-us#no-back'>contact us</a> with any questions, concerns, or if you wish to exercise any of these rights.</p> <h3>Effective Date of Privacy Notice</h3> <p>This privacy notice was last revised on February 12, 2020.</p>"}},{"@type":"Question","name":"Privacy and Public Computing ","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"<p>To help maintain user privacy and confidentiality, we provide computer systems that have anonymous logins and that are programmed to return the kiosk to its original state when restarted. Our computers are also set up to restart after a period of inactivity to help ensure that no identifying information is left behind by the user.</p> <p>A list of public computers available at the Library can be found on the <a href='/libraries/policies/public-computing/'>public computing policies</a> page.</p> <p>Email us at <a href='mailto:cul-privacy@cornell.edu?subject=Public%20Computing'>cul-privacy@cornell.edu</a> for questions or concerns about public computing.</p>"}}]}</script>    <div id="libchat_4f386087cd6219fad00cc295dd52af4d"></div> <script src="https://cornell.libanswers.com/load_chat.php?hash=4f386087cd6219fad00cc295dd52af4d"></script>  <style> .lcs_slide_out header { display: block; z-index: 501; position: absolute !important; width: 150px !important; right: 0; } .lcs_slide_out-b header a { border-width: 1px 1px 0px 1px; padding: 12px 18px 9px 18px !important; box-shadow: none !important; border-width: 0 !important; border-radius: 6px 6px 0 0 !important; } </style> </body> </html>