Skip to Search Skip to Navigation Skip to Content Skip to Footer

Privacy Statement

The WashU Libraries respect user privacy and 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 under state or federal law. Unless otherwise precluded by law, the Libraries will inform library users that their records have been accessed. For more information, please see the Confidentiality of Washington University in St. Louis Library Records.

The following discloses the information gathering and dissemination practices of the Libraries for the listed websites and any other servers running publicly accessible library services:

Information Collected and Stored Automatically

We gather and store certain information about your visit to our website automatically, even if you do nothing during your visit but browse through the website, read pages, or download information. This information does not identify you personally. We automatically collect and store the information usually logged by web servers, such as: the Internet domain and IP address; type of browser and operating system used to access our site; date and time you access our site; pages you visit; and, if you linked to our website from another website, the address of that website.

We are also implementing Google Analytics and Site Improve to help analyze how users use the site. The tools use “cookies,” text files placed on your computer, to collect standard Internet log information and visitor behavior information anonymously. The information generated by the cookies about your use of the website (including your IP address) is transmitted to these tools. This information is then used to evaluate visitors’ use of the website and to compile statistical reports on website activity for WashU Libraries.

We will never (and will not allow any third party to) use the statistical analytics tool to track or collect any personally identifiable information of visitors to our site. Google will not associate your IP address with any other data held by Google. Neither we nor Google will link, or seek to link, an IP address with the identity of a computer user. We will not associate any data gathered from this site with any personally identifiable information from any source unless you explicitly submit that information (see below).

We use this information to help us make our site more useful to WashU’s primary users: current students, faculty, and staff.

If You Send Us Personal Information

If you choose to provide us with personal information, such as 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 WashU Libraries

The WashU Libraries maintain a patron database for current WashU students, faculty, and staff to “do business” with them—that is, check out materials and/or access off-campus resources via the proxy server. 

Your record in this database contains:

  • Your name
  • Address
  • Phone number
  • WUSTL Key username
  • WashU ID number
  • A designator that indicates whether you are a student, faculty, or staff member
  • Your email address

Your record also contains information about which items you have currently checked out, borrowed from other libraries, or if you owe any fines. 

The Libraries use the information in your patron records only to allow you to “do business” with us.

For instructors utilizing Ares for electronic reserves, students enrolled in your class will see the faculty member’s name when they access course materials for the duration of the course only.

For students using Ares, the instructor will see your name associated with the course for its duration. Students cannot view the entire student roster in Ares.

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 WashU students, faculty, and staff. WashU Libraries are not responsible for such websites’ privacy practices or content. Once you link to another site (any URL that does not begin with any of the server names listed above, outside of *.wustl.edu), you are subject to the new site’s privacy policy – which may differ 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.

Contact Us

If you have any questions about this privacy statement, this site’s practices, or your dealings with this website, please use the Ask Us page to contact us.