[aisle] Student Confidentiality and Library Records

[Anita Beaman]

Sara, that seems to be the real question.  Do school library records
qualify as "school records" under FERPA?  They are not specifically
mentioned either way, so it seems to be kind of a grey area.

Some states have state statutes that specifically mention the
confidentiality of school library records.  However, Illinois's Library
Records Confidentiality Act doesn't specifically mention school libraries;
it just says library records are confidential.  So, the question is, does
FERPA override the Illinois law?  Which law(s) govern school library
records when they are not specifically named?

On Fri, Jan 20, 2023 at 12:36 PM Sara Bell via AISLE <
aisle at list.railslibraries.info> wrote:

> I would love to learn more on this topic as well.
>
> Since a large portion of my background is in public libraries, I don't
> have an expert opinion. But it was my understanding that if the
> students are minors, school records can not be withheld from parents.
> School library accounts would also be school records, correct?
>
> On Fri, Jan 20, 2023 at 10:49 AM Anita Beaman via AISLE <
> aisle at list.railslibraries.info> wrote:
>
>> Hello!
>> Our district is updating our library policies and will be having a
>> discussion about student privacy and library records at our next meeting.
>> There was some disagreement about this topic at our last meeting and I'd
>> like to have some input to share at our next one.
>>
>> According to the Illinois Library Records Confidentiality Act,
>> <https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs3.asp?ActID=1004&ChapterID=16>
>> libraries cannot make records available "to the public."  Some on our
>> committee are arguing that making them available to parents isn't "the
>> public."  Others feel it's important to keep student records private, even
>> from parents.
>>
>> We're a K-12 district, so this complicates matters since different
>> arguments can be made for different age groups.
>>
>> We've discussed this on the listserve before but I'm still gathering
>> info.  How do you handle sharing this information and what grade level is
>> your building?
>>
>> Any online resources you know if discussion this are also welcome!
>>
>> Thanks!
>>
>> --
>> "There is no dignity quite so impressive, and no independence so
>> important, as living within your means."--Calvin Coolidge
>> MAILMAN_MIMEDEFANG
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-- 
"There is no dignity quite so impressive, and no independence so important,
as living within your means."--Calvin Coolidge
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