Application of the principle of transparency in processing of European national libraries patrons' personal data
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/DLP-11-2021-0097 |
| Published date | 23 February 2022 |
| Date | 23 February 2022 |
| Pages | 399-411 |
| Subject Matter | Library & information science,Librarianship/library management,Library technology,Records management & preservation,Information repositories |
| Author | Anita Katulić,Tihomir Katulić,Ivana Hebrang Grgić |
Application of the principle of
transparency in processing of
European national libraries
patrons’personal data
Anita Katuli
c
National and University Library in Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Tihomir Katuli
c
Faculty of Law, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia, and
Ivana Hebrang Grgi
c
Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Abstract
Purpose –The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between the legal obligation of European
libraries to ensure the transparent personal data processing and respect for user privacy. This paper will examine
how libraries use privacy notices on websites to communicate with patrons about the pr ocessing of personal data
and in what manner have libraries been guided by applicable transparency guidelines.
Design/methodology/approach –The method usedis the analysisof privacy policiesand other privacy
documents found on the websites of national libraries. The analysis sample includes documents of 45
European national libraries,28 out of those being national libraries of European Union (EU) MemberStates.
The elements for this analysis are derived from the mandatory elements of the General Data Protection
Regulationand the recommendations of the WP29/EDPB Transparency Guidelines.
Findings –The findings suggest that European national libraries largely adhere to EU data protection
standards. In total, 60% libraries use a separate privacy page, and 53% of the EU Member State national
libraries websites managed to comply with publishing all necessary data protection information in a way
recommendedby the Guidelines, compared to 47% of non-Member State nationallibraries.
Originality/value –The research contributes to the understanding of the importance of the principle of
transparencyand its operationalization.
Keywords Data protection, Personal data, Library privacy, Patron privacy, National libraries,
Principle of transparency
Paper type Research paper
Introduction
For the most part of the 20th century, libraries did not rely on computer programsfor their
everyday activities. Library loans were recorded by hand on paper and entered into
borrowing cards and pockets for each user (Pedley, 2020, pp. 2–3). This way, the card from
the book borrowed by the user was inserted into the pocket in the user box, and upon return,
the card would be returned to the pocket in the book. Afterthe book was returned, there was
no record of the individual user’s borrowing history. Evenin such cases there were certain
privacy risks, for example in case of theft or loss of the user’s loan pocket as there was no
backup version (backup). Furthermore, the data could not be accessed fromother places, but
could only be accessedby individual librarians behind a particular librarydesk.
Principle of
transparency
399
Received17 November 2021
Revised22 January 2022
30January 2022
Accepted2 February 2022
DigitalLibrary Perspectives
Vol.38 No. 4, 2022
pp. 399-411
© Emerald Publishing Limited
2059-5816
DOI 10.1108/DLP-11-2021-0097
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