Washington University Libraries Privacy Statement
Thank you for visiting the Washington University Libraries website and reviewing our privacy policy. Our privacy policy is clear: We will collect no personal information about you when you visit our website unless you choose to provide that information to us, such as by submitting a question, requesting an item, or otherwise 'doing business' with the Libraries.
Although we try to protect the privacy of user records (including books and Internet searches), the Libraries may be obligated to release such information to law enforcement agents in accordance with state or federal law. Unless otherwise precluded by law, the Libraries will inform library users that their records have been accessed. Please see Confidentiality of Washington University Library Records for more information.
The following discloses the information gathering and dissemination practices of the University Libraries for these websites: library.wustl.edu, catalog.wustl.edu (spokane.wustl.edu), illiad.wustl.edu, eres.wustl.edu, orb.wulib.wustl.edu, and digital.wustl.edu.
Information Collected and Stored Automatically
If you do nothing during your visit but browse through the website, read pages, or download information, we will gather and store certain information about your visit automatically. This information does not identify you personally. We automatically collect and store only the following information about your visit:
- The Internet domain (for example, "yourschool.edu" if you connect from a university's domain, or "xcompany.com" if you use a private Internet access account) and IP address (an IP address is a number that is automatically assigned to your computer whenever you are surfing the Web) from which you access our website;
- The type of browser and operating system used to access our site;
- The date and time you access our site;
- The pages you visit; and
- If you linked to our website from another website, the address of that website.
We use this information to help us make our site more useful to our primary users, the current students, faculty, and staff of Washington University. We also use this information to learn about the number of visitors to our site and the types of technology our visitors use. We do not track or record information about individuals and their visits.
If You Send Us Personal Information
If you choose to provide us with personal information as in an email to one of our online email boxes, or by filling out a form with your personal information and submitting it to us through our website, we use that information to respond to your message and to help us get you the information you have requested. We do not collect personal information from such communications for any purpose other than to respond to you. We do not collect information for commercial marketing.
Doing Business with the Libraries
In order for current Washington University students, faculty, and staff to 'do business' with the Libraries - that is, check out materials, and access off-campus resources via the proxy server - the Libraries maintain a patron database on catalog.wustl.edu (spokane.wustl.edu). Your record in this database contains your name; address; phone number; University ID number; a designator that indicates whether you are a student, faculty, or staff member; your email address; and your PIN. It also contains information as to which items you have currently checked out, and if you owe any fines. The Libraries use the information in your patron record only to allow you to 'do business' with us.
We also keep information about you if you use ILLiad (Interlibrary Loan), on illiad.wustl.edu. Your record in this database contains your name; address; phone number; University ID number; your status with the University (student, faculty, or staff); your email address; your username; and your password. It also contains information about the ILL requests you have made, including the status on each request. Again, the Libraries use the information in your ILLiad record only to allow you to 'do business' with us.
If you are an instructor using ERes (electronic reserves), you have an account on eres.wustl.edu that contains your name, e-mail address and sometimes your mailing address. ERes is only available on the University campus or to people with valid library accounts. Your name and e-mail address are shown on ERes to those who have the password to any courses with material on ERes. You have access to this information using your ERes username and password. If you do not know your username or password, contact the Olin Reserves Unit.
If you login to Find it! you are creating a record on orb.wulib.wustl.edu. This record, in terms of what authorized library staff can view, contains only your first name and your Washington University ID. You can save records and your favorite sets of databases, but library staff cannot view this information.
Links to Other Sites
This site contains many links to other sites, primarily databases and electronic journals which the Libraries have licensed for the use of Washington University students, faculty, and staff. Washington University Libraries are not responsible for the privacy practices or the content of such websites. Once you link to another site (any URL that does not begin with library.wustl.edu, catalog.wustl.edu, spokane.wustl.edu, illiad.wustl.edu, eres.wustl.edu, orb.wulib.wustl.edu, or digital.wustl.edu), you are subject to the privacy policy of the new site - which may differ considerably from the Libraries policy.
Site Security
To guard against unauthorized access, maintain data accuracy, and promote the correct use of information, we have put in place physical, electronic, and managerial procedures to safeguard and secure the information we collect online.
However, while we consider these measures reasonable, no assurance can be given that they will always and in all cases prevent or protect against invalid access or improper activity, and any expectation or warranty of unassailable site security is expressly disclaimed.
Contacting Us
If you have any questions about this privacy statement, the practices of this site, or your dealings with this website, please contact:
Carol M. Antoniewicz
Electronic Resources Librarian/Library Webmaster
Washington University Libraries
Campus Box 1061
One Brookings Drive
St. Louis, MO 63130
library.webmaster@wumail.wustl.edu