Data is stored in our library management system for the purpose of managing patron accounts and providing services. Only specific Library employees can access your account information, which includes:

• Your name, address, phone, email and G-number
• Items you currently have checked out or requested
• Items for which you have accrued an unpaid fine
• Items you have requested through MeLCat or Document Delivery

When you return an item, after 7 days your checkout of the item is deidentified, and the item cannot be traced back to you.

When you borrow materials through MeLCat, your name and GVSU barcode (from your student or faculty/staff ID) is transmitted to the Michigan Cooperative for Library Services (MCLS). Your name is shared with the lending library. (MCLS is a service of the Library of Michigan, and subject to the State of Michigan Policies.)

When you borrow materials from other institutions through Document Delivery, records of these transactions are stored in a separate system called ILLiad (hosted by OCLC) and are not automatically anonymized. Your name and the item you request is transmitted to the lending library.

Data are gathered and made available to the Libraries that includes:

• operating system
• browser
• country
• on- or off-campus location
• whether a user is signed into their library account
• searches performed

No personal information is made available to the University Libraries.

Library Search and the Library Catalog are licensed through EBSCO, and are subject to the EBSCO Information Systems Privacy Policy.

The University Libraries' uses a proxy server to handle authentication to the hundreds of licensed databases we subscribe to. The proxy server is managed by GVSU IT and collects anonymized data (randomized sessionID and timestamp), as well as the resource accessed. These logs are deleted after 6 months.  An audit log includes your username, the sessionID and timestamp, but not the resource accessed. Audit logs are deleted after 180 days. We may also anonymize and analyze these logs in order to assess our collections and their use. 

Once you are authenticated, none of these data are passed on to the third-party database provider. Some third-party databases do require that you create your own account, in which case you pass PII data on to them. We license hundreds of databases and have collected their privacy policies for you below. We encourage you to review privacy policies for each database vendor.

The following University Libraries' online tools are tracked using Google Analytics:

• The Libraries' website (gvsu.edu/library)
• Special Collections and University Archives website (gvsu.edu/library/specialcollections)
• Knowledge Market website (gvsu.edu/library/km)
• Digital Collections website (gvsu.edu/library/digitalcollections)
• ScholarWorks@GVSU (scholarworks.gvsu.edu)

Data gathered include the browser, operating system, and city of the device being used, searches performed, and site navigation. No personal or demographic data are made available to the Libraries via Google Analytics. However, if you are logged into your Google or Gmail Account while using the Libraries' website or tools, additional data may be tracked and linked to your Google Account.

Review Google's Account Data and Privacy for additional information, including instructions on adjusting what data Google connects to your account.

Googles' Opt-Out Browser Add-on allows you to opt out of Google Analytics.

ScholarWorks@GVSU is a third-party vendor tool provided by Elsivier. You are encouraged to review their privacy policy. 

Other third-party library tools are not tracked by Google Analytics but collect their own built-in data, including:

• Springshare Products
  • Subject Guides (libguides.gvsu.edu)
  • Library Hours (cal.library.gvsu.edu)
  • Library Help (help.library.gvsu.edu)
  • Library Chat (gvsu.edu/library/chat)
  • Library Database A-Z (gvsu.edu/library/databases)
• EBSCO Search Products
  • Library Search (gvsu.edu/library/librarysearch)
  • Library Catalog (gvsu.locate.ebsco.com)
  • Library Journal Search (gvsu.edu/library/findjournals)
• OCLC Products
  • Document Delivery (gvsu.edu/library/docdel)
  • EZProxy (ezproxy.gvsu.edu)

You are encouraged to review privacy policies for these vendors:

• Springshare Privacy Policy
• EBSCO Privacy Policy
• OCLC Privacy Policy

If you text us, send an email to [email protected], [email protected], or fill out a web form on our website, we keep these data in order to trouble-shoot, improve services, and/or to keep statistics on our work. Problem reports also generate emails to library staff. 30 days after a problem report is resolved we anonymize the metadata. Personally-identifying information may still appear in the text of the problems, such as your email signature.

The Mary Idema Pew Library, Steelcase Library, Frey Foundation Learning Commons, Special Collections and University Archives, and the Technology Showcase collect data on how many people enter/exit the building using third-party sensors from Axper. We use this data to provide real-time occupancy data on our website, as well as to improve physical spaces within the building. We encourage you to review the Axper privacy policy.

Staff manually collect usage of all spaces during library operating hours. These are often head counts of specific spaces. These data are anonymized and used to improve physical space within the building.

GVSU IT Services provides wireless internet routers through our spaces. Cell phones often automatically "ping" wireless routers and exchange data, and when you log into campus networks your campus ID is needed to authenticate. These systems are subject to GVSU IT Services Policies and GVSU's Privacy Statement. These data are not collected or maintained by the Libraries.

Special Collections and University Archives researchers are required to complete a registration form prior to using collection materials in the Reading Room. Identifying information is recorded on this form. The forms are held in Special Collections and University Archives for a period not to exceed one year from the date of last visit.