During Choose Privacy Week 2018, the American Library Association invites librarians and library users to engage in a conversation about “big data” in the library and its impact on individuals’ right to privacy via a week-long online forum.

We’ve gathered a fantastic group of librarians, educators, and privacy experts to explore the issues around Big Data and privacy in libraries and to promote methods and technologies that can help guide librarians in knowing how to responsibly use these data-gathering techniques. Beginning on May 1, we’ll post a link here daily pointing to a new post on the Choose Privacy Week blog that we hope will inspire you to think about and discuss these issues and to take action to preserve individuals’ privacy rights.

May 1: Libraries as Private Spaces
by Jason Griffey, Affiliate Fellow, Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society

May 2: Big Brother is Watching You: The ethical role of libraries and big data
by Erin Berman, Innovations Manager, San Jose Public Library

May 3: The Challenge of Balancing Customer Service with Privacy
by Sarah Houghton, Director of the San Rafael Public Library

May 3: Practical Privacy – Helping People Make Realistic Privacy Choices for their Real Lives
by Jessamyn West, Community Technologist and Librarian, Vermont Mutual Aid Society

May 4:Your Library Association is Watching You
by Eric Hellman and T.J. Lamanna

May 4: Patron Privacy and Data Storage
by Matt Beckstrom, Systems Librarian at the Lewis & Clark Library in Helena, Montana