Receipts
Even as we move further into the digital world, many users still love getting a physical receipt after checking out their materials. Parents hang them on the fridge to remember due dates. College students keep them tucked inside their course reserves. Sometimes the receipts get tossed into the trash, but often they are left behind inside a book for the next user to discover. Before computerized checkouts, it was common for someone to know who had checked out an item. All you had to do was look at the checkout card pasted on the inside cover. Integrated Library Systems (ILS) made us rethink this approach, but many receipts divulge a user’s PII.
Exercise
Select a few items from your library and check them out.
Use the self-check machines and then try checking items out at the staff desk.
Try different types of materials like a course reserve or a popular DVD.
Take a look at what information is on the receipt. What do you find?
- Do your receipts include any PII?
- What information would be necessary on a privacy-focused receipt?
If your receipt contains information that may expose a library user, try to get it changed. This might take a little technical knowledge or calling vendors to update the process.
