Managing information about people: data protection issues for academic library managers
| Date | 01 February 1997 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/01435129710157734 |
| Published date | 01 February 1997 |
| Pages | 42-52 |
| Author | J. Eric Davies |
| Subject Matter | Library & information science |
Computing and communication technology
enables the collection and exchange of personal
information on a scale unprecedented in the
history of civilisation. Thus there is increased
potential for violating the privacy and integrity
of data describing individuals. (Association for
Computing Machinery, San Francisco, CA,
1993).
Introduction
Each day of the library manager’s life presents
new challenges, problems and scenarios.
They range from strategic considerations
regarding service development and resource
deployment to operational matters centred
upon sustaining a service day in, day out (for
many academic libraries are now a seven-day-
a-week service) with people, systems, collec-
tions and buildings, together with, of course,
information. Forming an underlay to this
scenario is legislation both from our own
Parliament and from the European Union
(EU). Such measures regulate the governance
of an institution, the way management oper-
ates, the services that are provided, conduct
towards suppliers and users, and not least, the
treatment of information as a valuable com-
modity and as a sensitive resource. Some-
where among the plethora of legislation and
regulations (and it is suspected sometimes
buried deep within it) is the Data Protection
Act 1984 (DPA) which has far reaching con-
sequences for any information manager who
employs information technology to organize
and deliver services. The DPA aims to regu-
late the use of information technology in
applications involving personal information.
A considerable amount of personal infor-
mation is collected and used in information
and library services including details about
library users, suppliers, staff, author s and
related contributors, and even supporters and
patrons. Legislation prescribes methods for its
care, organization and handling. But to what
extent does the legislation really impinge on
management and influence operations and
methods; and how aware are managers of
their obligations? How well looked after are
personal data? Does anybody know? Does
anyone care? This paper discusses some of the
wider managerial and philosophical issues
and outlines an attempt to offer some answers
and describe the situation in a segment of
academic information and library services in
the UK. In 1995, a study supported by a grant
from the British Library Research and
42
Library Management
Volume 18 · Number 1 · 1997 · pp. 42–52
© MCB University Press · ISSN 0143-5124
Managing information
about people: data
protection issues for
academic library
managers
J. Eric Davies
The author
J. Eric Daviesis a Lecturer in the Department of Informa-
tion and Library Studies, Loughborough University,
Loughborough, UK
Abstract
Examines the ethical, legal and social context of academic
library management with particular reference to the
general treatment of personal information through data
protection. Describes the legal background to data
protection, including the Data Protection Act 1984 and the
European Union Directive of 1995, and considers the
implications for library management. Drawing on the
results of a British Library Research and Innovation Centre-
funded impact survey of university libraries undertaken in
1995, examines in detail current data protection policies,
practices and levels of awareness. Identifies a general
need for greater awareness and knowledge and suggests
some ways of rectifying the situation. Discusses current
and future management issues and scenarios which
influence the priority given to data protection and empha-
sizes the importance of giving it adequate attention.
To continue reading
Request your trial