RFID Debate: PLA Calls IFC's Privacy Guidelines Too Restrictive

-- Library Journal, 02/02/2006

At the American Library Association (ALA) Midwinter Meeting in San Antonio, an open hearing concerned proposed "Guidelines for Implementing RFID Technologies in Libraries: Privacy and Intellectual Freedom Concerns." But the proposal from ALA's Intellectual Freedom Committee (IFC) came in for criticism from several representatives of the Public Library Association (PLA), who called the draft too prescriptive. "PLA is well aware of and extremely supportive of the privacy rights of library users," said PLA president Dan Walters, director of the Las Vegas-Clark County Library District, NV. "But we believe the guidelines prematurely prohibit specific applications." For example, the draft stated that libraries should use hardwire connections, not wireless once, for all communications between RFID systems and the ILS involving personally identifiable information.

He added, "We regret the tone, which appears to suggest that the two [privacy and RFID] are virtually incompatible." He said his own library was considering RFID. "We could never do what we're doing without that technology," said Louise Schaper, director of the Fayetteville PL, AR, who cited a doubling of circulation without a commensurate increase in staff. IFC chair Kent Oliver said that the committee would discuss the guidelines in light of the comments.