By the IFC Privacy Subcommittee

Data Privacy Day is on January 28. It’s a great reminder (or nudge) to spruce up your library privacy practices. We’ve got the perfect tools to get you started (and with minimal effort), too. We’ll be sharing 7 privacy field guides in 7 days.

What are the Privacy Field Guides?

The Institute of Museum and Library Services, in partnership with the American Library Association, sponsored the creation of the Privacy Field Guides. They contain practical, hands-on exercises for you to create a more privacy-focused library. They are designed for academic, public, and school libraries of all types. Any library worker can benefit from using the guides, and we know you will find at least one action you personally can take to improve library privacy.

There are currently 7 guides available for free via printable PDF or an interactive website. You can also buy the book version. We’ll be highlighting one per day with you. We’ll go over the following:

• Where can you find it?
• Who’s it for?
• What’s covered?
• Why should you check it out?

Day 1 – Digital Security Basics

Where can you find it?

The printable PDF is available in the privacy section of the ALA website. It’s also available on the interactive website.

Who’s it for?

This guide is for individuals aiming to learn digital security skills and for those hoping to have privacy and digital security education for library staff.

Understanding basic digital security concepts, and knowing where to go for more help is a great first step for all who work in libraries. Not only will these skills help make the library and its data more secure, they also allow staff to better help users be more secure online.

What’s covered?

• Creating strong passwords and passphrases
• How to recognize phishing, malware, ransomware, and other cyberthreats
• Securing your library website
• Training staff and users

Why should you check it out?

The exercises help you take immediate action. We recommend you try out “Passwords are Out. Passphrases are In”. You’ll learn how to create hard-to-crack passwords using phrases – that you will actually remember! Plus, there’s a link you can follow to test your new passphrase to see how secure it really is.

What’s next?

On Day 2, we’ll share details about the “How to Talk About Privacy” field guide.

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The Intellectual Freedom Committee‘s Privacy Subcommittee monitors ongoing privacy developments in technology (in cooperation with the Library Information Technology Association (LITA)), politics and legislation (in cooperation with the Committee on Legislation (COL)), as well as social and cultural trends that impact individual privacy and confidentiality, both in libraries and the wider world.   It is charged with identifying privacy needs and resources for librarians and library users; proposing action on resolutions, policies, and guidelines addressing privacy, confidentiality, and data security; developing educational, informational, and promotional projects addressing privacy, confidentiality, and data security issues; and collaborating with other member groups and organizations within and without ALA on matters within its charge.