Users of the World Wide Web have learned to look for privacy policies on web sites. Although not a guaratee of privacy, these policies help inform visitors of the privacy practices of sites that they visit.

Although most libraries have policies relating to patron privacy, few post privacy statements on their web sites. As Internet users become accustomed to checking the privacy policy of sites that they visit, they will expect to find them on library sites as well. Unless they find privacy policies on library sites, they may assume that there is no privacy protection provided by our institutions.

Before you can complete a detailed privacy policy it is necessary to determine where the privacy risks are in your systems and what measures you are taking to minimize those risks. During this audit you may decide to modify your practices and to create specific policies that did not exist before. Only after you have performed such an audit can you write your detailed privacy policy.