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

1. Registration and Personal Information

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

2. Library Card Account Information

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

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

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

• You can authorize individuals to pick up your holds and/or to borrow materials on your behalf, at your written or in-person request.
• If you fail to pay a library bill, a hold may be put on your account in the college's financial database. Other college staff will see that you have a bill, but cannot access other library account details.
• In the case of a valid subpoena or warrant, following consultation with legal counsel.

GCC Library Card Opt-Out

Students, faculty, and staff may choose not to have a library card created for them automatically. This impacts your ability to access GCC library resources, including some streaming film databases and the technology lending library. To opt out, please email library@gcc.mass.edu with your name, student ID number, and the request to opt out.

3. Account Password

When you open a library card account, staff will set a password for you, which you can reset. Your password is encrypted and is not visible to library staff. We cannot look up your password for you, but we can reset it. Because we use a pattern for creating default passwords, we strongly recommend you reset yours to prevent others from guessing it.

4. Library Account Records

Library records which may reveal your interests or research are protected by law. Your checkout history is purged from your account 7 days after you return items. Please note that library staff are able to see the "last patron" who checked out a particular item; your name will remain linked to that record until another patron checks out that same item.

5. Library Computers

The library keeps no record of which desktops you visit and does not track internet sites, online resources, or searches. No library computer requires individual credentials for use, except for Tech Lending Library (TLL) Chromebooks. Note that network traffic on GCC internet may be monitored by GCC's IT department per the acceptable use policy.

Data Purge Procedures:

• PC Desktops: All data is purged when the PC restarts (automatic or manual).
• Mac Desktops: All data is purged after logging out from the guest account.
• TLL Laptops: Computers are reimaged by IT upon return, removing all saved data.
• TLL Chromebooks: Computers are powerwashed by library staff upon return.

6. Third-Party Services

To access electronic databases and streaming services from off-campus, you must sign in with your library card number. We do not share your library account information with these vendors beyond verifying your account status. Be aware that these vendors have their own privacy policies and may track your activity in ways the library does not.

7. Right to Privacy in Library Spaces

We respect patrons' rights to use our spaces anonymously. We do not have security cameras in any of our spaces. In Massachusetts, it is illegal to surreptitiously record audio or video of others' communications without consent (Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 272 § 99). Unauthorized recording is also a violation of the GCC Student Code of Conduct.

Adopted January 2019, revised 1/2022, 7/2024, 9/2025