With some frequency, faculty members and students inquire of library personnel concerning the identity of a person who has a specific book charged out, hoping to ask that person if they might borrow the book temporarily. Doing this will get the book into their possession quicker than requesting it through proper library channels, they judge. Handling it in this manner, in effect, causes the library to lose track of who has the book and is a violation of library policy. All books must be charged out directly from the library. In addition, revealing the identity of who has certain materials charged out is illegal, a violation of the Michigan Public Act No. 455, the Library Privacy Act. In conformity with the law, the College-Seminary Library Committee has established the "Confidentiality of Library Records Policy."

Policy

The Hekman Library registration and circulation records are confidential. Registration records include any information the library requires the patron to provide in order to become eligible to borrow materials. Circulation records include all information which identifies a patron as borrowing particular materials. Except in accordance with proper judicial order, no person makes known in any manner information contained in such records. Nothing in this statement, however, prevents the use of such records by authorized institutional personnel in the performance of his or her duties.