(a) The libraries established under the provisions of this chapter, and any free public library receiving a state appropriation, shall annually make a report to the State Library Board.

(b) (1) Notwithstanding section 1-210, records maintained by libraries that can be used to identify any library user, or link any user to a library transaction, regardless of format, shall be kept confidential, except that the records may be disclosed to officers, employees and agents of the library, as necessary for operation of the library.

(2) Information contained in such records shall not be released to any third party, except (A) pursuant to a court order, or (B) with the written permission of the library user whose personal information is contained in the records.

(3) For purposes of this subsection, “library” includes any library regularly open to the public, whether public or private, maintained by any industrial, commercial or other group or association, or by any governmental agency, but does not include libraries maintained by schools and institutions of higher education.

(4) No provision of this subsection shall be construed to prevent a library from publishing or making available to the public statistical reports regarding library registration and use of library materials, if such reports do not contain personally identifying information.

(1949 Rev., S. 1663; February, 1965, P.A. 490, S. 8; P.A. 75-316, S. 15; P.A. 81-431, S. 4; P.A. 07-227, S. 20.)

History: 1965 act substituted state library committee for state board of education; P.A. 75-316 substituted state library board for state library committee; P.A. 81-431 added Subsec. (b) concerning confidentiality of library circulation records; P.A. 07-227 replaced former Subsec. (b) re confidentiality of personally identifying information with new Subsec. (b) re confidentiality of records that can be used to identify library user or link user with library transaction and release of records, effective July 1, 2007.