Illinois Library Records Confidentiality Act - Rationale For The Act

Rationale For The Act

The rationale behind this piece of legislation begins with the First Amendment to the United States Constitution, in so far as the privacy of library records is thought to be an appendage to freedom of speech. There have been numerous attempts through the years by individuals and institutions to gain the sensitive information on a patron’s library card, such as law enforcement looking for the identity of someone conducting research on a particular topic, or a professor wanting to review the circulation records of a student accused of plagiarism. Furthermore, it is thought that if patrons cannot be assured that their information is confidential, it produces a “chilling effect” on a patron’s desire for information.