Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act
and the Fort McMurray Public Library

Introduction
The Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FOIP) became effective for local government bodies, including public libraries, on October 1, 1999. 

The basic objective of FOIP is to make government bodies more open and accountable.  The Act does this by providing access to records and by protecting the privacy of individuals.  Protecting the privacy of individuals involves safeguarding an individual's personal information.

Why does the Library collect personal information?
Personal information collected from Library patrons is used to keep track of borrowed materials, send notices regarding overdue materials or fines, and for the Library's operating programs and activities.

The Library collects personal information under the authority of the Libraries Act and under the FOIP Act, Section 32.  Personal information can only be used for the purpose for which it is collected.

What is personal information?
Personal information is defined by FOIP to consist of any recorded information about an identifiable individual including but not restricted to the:
-  the individual's name
-  the individual's home telephone number
-  the individual's business telephone number
-  the individual's home or business address
-  the individual's age, sex, marital status or family status
-  an identifying number, or symbol assigned to the individual
-  anyone else's opinions about the individual

Who has access to personal information?
There are many restrictions on who has access to a patron's personal information.   Some Library employees need to use personal information to send overdue notices or notify a patron about a reserved book.  However, all Library employees do not have access to all patron records.  Similarly, unless a patron has given written consent, Library employees cannot release your personal information to third parties.

An example of a third party is an adult registered under your family membership, e.g. your spouse.  This means that another adult registered under your family membership does not have access to your borrowing record at the Library.  If you want to have another adult carry out transactions on your membership, e.g. renewals, pay overdue fines, then please fill out a "'FOIP Consent Form."  Without this consent the Library is mandated by FOIP to allow only an individual access to their personal information, which includes borrowing information.

What information can the public access?
The Library provides access to general Library information to members of the public. This has not changed under FOIP.  For example, copies of minutes from Board meetings and Board policies were available to the public before October 1, 1999 and continue to be available to the public after October 1, 1999.

Most of our information was available prior to the Act, but the Act ensures that we make every effort to respond to the public's request for information.  FOIP provides a mechanism for the public to request information that may not be generally available.  However, FOIP is a "last resort".  If you are seeking general information about the Library, please ask at the Front Desk for assistance.

If you have questions or concerns...
The Fort McMurray Public Library supports the right of the public to access information about the Library and right of individuals to the privacy of their personal information.

If you have any questions about the collection, use or disclosure of your personal information or any matters of access or privacy, please contact the FOIP Coordinator:

Fort McMurray Public Library
151 MacDonald Drive
Fort McMurray, AB  T9H 5C5
780-743-7800