Copy

FIPPA and COVID-19

View this email in your browser
Computer circuit board

Contact Tracing in Public Libraries

Dear Library Champion,

Contact tracing, the practice of interviewing people to determine where they have been over a period of days or weeks, is a practice that is part of reducing the spread of COVID19. Some library boards in Manitoba have deemed it necessary to document their patron’s presence in the library in an effort to assist Public Health’s contact tracing should a case of COVID19 be linked to the library.

While these efforts may seem prudent in the case of a pandemic, public library boards need to be conscious of their obligation to protect the privacy of individuals using the library. Indeed, the American Library Association has issued Guidelines on Contact Tracing, Health Checks, and Library Users’ Privacy The ALA cautions that “…A public health surveillance program implemented in the current situation could become permanent, resulting in an irrevocable loss of privacy and civil liberties.” The website Choose Privacy Every Day advises libraries to only initiate contact tracing if mandated by Public Health or local officials. Contact tracing in other jurisdictions, such as British Columbia, is not done by public libraries in that province at this time.

If libraries are obligated to conduct contact tracing, the library should work with their municipal privacy officer to verify the information necessary to be collected, and disclosure protocols under the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA). Public libraries should publicize that they are collecting information for contact tracing with signage at library entrances, and notices on library websites and social media. FIPPA also requires that a person be designated to answer questions related to the privacy collection and disclosure should an individual want more information. In accordance with Public Health Guidelines, personal information collected for contact tracing should be held for a maximum of 21 days.

Information gathering methods might include individual sign-in forms, sign-in sheets with membership numbers only, or printing off daily circulation reports. All information should be stored in a secure location accessible only to specific individuals charged with securing the documentation.

By publicly acknowledging contact tracing is happening at your library, and reassuring individuals of the security of the information being collected, libraries can retain their reputation as a trusted, freely accessible resource and ensure the privacy of their citizens.

Library Consultants - We're Here To Help
Questions about library operations, policy development, training, board governance, etc.? Give us a call!
 
Denise Weir
Regional Library Consultant
1-888-841-3326
Denise.Weir@gov.mb.ca
 
Meagan Richards
Municipal Library Consultant
1-888-277-3523
Meagan.Richards@gov.mb.ca

Sport, Culture and Heritage > Public Library Services

Visit the Library Training Calendar on the Public Library Services Branch website for a detailed listing of current training opportunities in Manitoba and online at: http://www.gov.mb.ca/chc/pls/calendar.html 
  
PLSB provides an all-access pass for all public libraries in Manitoba to premium Canadian webinars hosted by the Education Institute (EI). This all-access pass allows your library to participate live in any EI webinar over the course of the year. EI is a continuing education program for the library community developed by The Partnership of Provincial and Territorial Library Associations of Canada. 
 
 
Recordings are always available for libraries unable to attend live EI sessions, you access the full 20162017, 2018, 2019, 2020 training archives by selecting the desired links.

Click here to forward this email to all library staff, board members and volunteers.
Encourage others to sign-up and receive this monthly training newsletter directly!

Feedback?

Email us at pls@gov.mb.ca 

You can read past issues of the Library Training Newsletter here

Mailchimp makes it easy to subscribe, forward, or unsubscribe from emails at any time. If you do not wish to receive any further emails you can click 'unsubscribe' below. Or if you wish to change the email you receive the newsletter at, click 'update subscription preferences'

Copyright © 2020 Public Library Services Manitoba, All rights reserved.


unsubscribe from this list    update subscription preferences 

Email Marketing Powered by Mailchimp