Privacy and Protection of Information

Brock University Library protects patron privacy and personal information. Under the authority of the Brock University Act, 1964, section 3, and in accordance with the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA), personal information is collected as necessary for the administration of the University Library and its programs and services. 

What Information is Collected?

  • biographical information, including name, address, employee or student identification number, program / department affiliation, contact information and barcode number for all current and former students (alumni), faculty, staff, retirees, visiting scholars, community (extramural) borrowers, reciprocal borrowers (including borrowers from other Omni libraries), high school students involved in a Brock Mentorship Program, and applicants for temporary user accounts. 
  • titles for which patrons request holds or recalls 
  • items currently checked out 
  • a history of fines, fees, book replacement and processing charges 

Access to patron information is limited to employees of Brock University who require the information to perform the duties of their positions. Disclosure to third parties will only occur with the written consent of the patron or as required by law. All records, whether in electronic or hard copy, are retained in accordance with the University’s Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Policy and maintained in a secure environment. 

Web Analytics

The Library website uses Google Analytics to capture and analyze web statistics. This information is provided in aggregate and cannot be connected to an individual user. Collected information is used to better understand how users interact with our website and to improve our web services. 

Information collected through Google Analytics (including IP addresses) is stored by Google on servers located outside Canada. Google does not associate data collected through Google Analytics with other data held by Google or share this data with third parties. Further information about Google Analytics and Google’s privacy policies is provided at https://www.google.ca/analytics/terms/us.html. 

You may opt out of allowing Google Analytics to collect web usage statistics by using the Google Analytics Opt-Out Browser Extension. 

Floor Count/Occupancy Tracker

Upon entering the Learning Commons in the James A. Gibson Library, you may notice our vibrant Floor Count/Occupancy display on the large monitors at both entrances of the library. These are there to help visitors find a seat in the library.

How do we get this information?

Short answer: wi-fi device counts.
Long answer: If you look up at the ceiling, you might spot white square boxes with “Aruba” written on them. These are the access points that provide Brock’s Wi-Fi. Every so often, we check how many devices are connected to each one. Since we know where each access point is located, this helps us estimate how many people are in that area. We cannot see information about individuals connected, only the total number of devices connected to the access points. We collect data over time and trained a model that compares device counts to the actual number of people. This estimate changes throughout the day, depending on how busy the space is.

Questions?

Please direct any questions about this collection to the Head, User Services & Engagement at (905) 688-5550, ext. 3088 or email [email protected]

Policy last updated: April 2023