Disclosure of Information

The Department adheres to the Public Records Act regarding the confidentiality of library records as outlined in a memorandum of November 14, 1988, from the General Counsel of the Tennessee Board of Regents:

TCA 10-8-101 through 10-8-103 provides that "No employee of a library shall disclose any library record that identifies a person as having requested or obtained specific materials, information or services or as having otherwise used such library.  Such library records shall be considered an exception to the provisions of Section 10-7-503" (which provides that all public records shall be open for public inspection).

Library records may be disclosed only under the following circumstances:

1. Upon the written consent of the library user;
2. Pursuant to the order of a court of competent jurisdiction; or
3. When used to seek reimbursement for or the return or lost, stolen, misplaced or otherwise overdue library materials.

Library record is defined as meaning a document, record or other method of storing information retained by a library that identifies a person as having requested or obtained specific information or materials from such library.  Library record does not include non-identifying material that may be retained for the purpose of studying or evaluating the circulation of library materials in general.  TCA 10-8-101 (b).

This page was last updated 04/19/2010
please send questions / comments / suggestions to
Kevin Merriman, Head of Collection Management