The University of Iowa—School of Library and Information Sciences
While they offer many benefits, mobile devices also raise major privacy concerns.
Librarians have a duty to help our patrons take advantage of the benefits mobile
devices offer and to mitigate the privacy threats such devices pose.
Mobile Benefits
Portability
Instant access to information
GPS navigation
More affordable than desktop or laptop computers
Communication
New venue for library services
Concerns
Mobile devices make gathering personal
information easy for device providers, app
developers, and government agencies
GPS allows fine-grained tracking of user movements
Supposedly anonymous data can still be
used to identify individuals
E-readers collect detailed information on user reading habits
What Libraries Can Do
Establish a comprehensive privacy policy that fully addresses mobile technologies
Educate staff and patrons about your
privacy policy, vendor privacy policies, and
the privacy concerns posed by e-books and mobile devices
Help patrons understand and set up privacy settings on their devices
Stay informed about trends in mobile technology and privacy laws
Identify and use vendors and services that respect patron privacy
Advocate privacy protections to vendors, law makers, and the public
Create your own e-book and mobile services that respect patron privacy
Participate in ALA's Choose Privacy Week
Work with organizations like the ACLU
and the Electronic Frontier Foundation on privacy campaigns
Refuse to provide e-book or other mobile services that violate your library's privacy policy