TARGET->Student privacy at school

[Susie Steeves <ssteeves@1SCOM.NET>]

Greetings LM_Netters,

I am a future school media specialist currently working on my MLS, not

in the trenches yet, still trying to sort out how my particular =
contribution

to the profession will take shape.  I've been lurking for several months =


now, and this is my first attempt at a post, so I am really nervous. =20

Please bear with me if I sound na=EFve or just plain ignorant.

=20

I am researching the issue of student patron privacy, partly for my own=20

edification, but also for a small research assignment.  I am familiar =
with=20

and understand the ALA position on student privacy and its implications=20

for automated circulation records, dealing with overdue notices, etc. =20

It is my understanding that our ethical position is based on our=20

Constitution through the ALA Library Bill of Rights and its =
Interpretations.

 =20

Here is my dilemma.  In support of our professional ethics position,

I am trying to find legal justification for refusing to show parents =
their=20

children's circulation history.  I have searched Academic Premier and=20

ERIC on EBSCOhost, FirstGov, LexisNexis Academic, and the OIF=20

on the ALA website, but so far legal support for that stand eludes me. =20

I've searched on ["student privacy" AND schools], "freedom of=20

information", "parental rights", FERPA, and a couple of other=20

keyword combinations that went nowhere. =20



What I've found is that according to FERPA, parents do indeed=20

have full access to student educational records.  In fact, parents can=20

control who sees those records outside the educational context. =20

Am I totally misunderstanding this law, or missed something important? =20



If it boils down to a definition of what constitutes student educational =


records, is there some legal precedence for us to stand on?  Or a court

case on the interpretation of the right to privacy?  Just as a special =
ed=20

IEP cannot override US and international copyright laws, I do not see=20

how a profession's code of ethics can override the requirements of=20

FERPA.  So, I must be missing at least one key piece to the puzzle,=20

maybe several! =20

=20

I respect the collective wisdom and knowledge of this group.

I would really value any insights and clues you all could share with me. =
=20

Please respond to me privately, let me know if you do not want your

reply to be public, and I will attempt to figure out how to post a HIT.=20

If I can use your comments in my assignment, I will contact you=20

for permission.

=20

Many, many TIA,

Susie Steeves

"Librarian in Training"

University of North Texas Denton

ssteeves@1scom.net=20

=20

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