Privacy Policy
West Florida Public Libraries (WFPL) is committed to protecting personal information, including use of library resources and services. This policy outlines how WFPL collects, uses, and protects personal data.
Information We Collect
WFPL collects personal information to allow patrons to use library resources (e.g., borrowing books, reserving meeting rooms, etc.). This registration information is necessary to conduct library business. It includes legal name, residential address, phone number, date of birth, and driver license’s or IDs numbers as stated in the Circulation Policy. Registration information required is confidential and exempt from public records requests.
Protecting Information About You
Personal information requested by WFPL and use of library services are protected by Florida Statute 257.261. Under this statute, personal data may be shared with third parties to collect materials, fines, or fees owed to WFPL. This information is also subject to the provisions of Section 215 of the USA PATRIOT Act, which authorizes the federal government to request such records.
Patrons have the option to activate the “Loan History” feature on their account. This feature lists all the items the patron has checked out since the feature was activated. Patrons may deactivate the option at any time, which will stop further additions to the loan history list. WFPL does not retain loan history records once the feature is deactivated, except for items currently checked out. Records of other library use (e.g., accruals of fines, payments made, etc.) are maintained only for statistical purposes or to facilitate the recovery of materials or fees.
Please note that activating the loan history option creates a record that is accessible by both above-mentioned exceptions to the general privacy of records.
WFPL does not sell, lease, or share personal information with outside parties except as outlined above or required by law.
Miscellaneous Records
Correspondence with WFPL and reports of incidents are considered public records under Florida Statute 119.011(11).
E-mail Communications with the Library
E-mail communications with WFPL and the e-mail addresses associated with those communications are public records and subject to disclosure.
As required by Florida Statute 668.6076, WFPL posts the following notice on our website and all outgoing emails:
“Florida has a very broad public records law. Under Florida law, both the content or emails, email addresses and IP addresses are public records. If you do not want the content of your email, your email address, or your IP address released in a response to a public records request, do not send electronic mail to this entity. Instead, contact this office by phone or in person.”
Reviewed and approved on January 26, 2026, by the West Florida Public Libraries Board of Governance.
