General Policies

The Board of Trustees and staff of The American Library in Paris recognize our patrons’ concerns about privacy on the Internet. This Privacy Statement explains how we deal with the personal information that we may collect from our patrons.

When visiting The American Library in Paris website and using our electronic services, patrons can choose to provide their name, email address, membership card number, phone number, and/or home address. This information will only be used to fulfill patrons’ service needs and to help the Library improve and target its services effectively. Cookies may be used for these same purposes. A cookie is a small piece of software that is placed by a web server onto a user’s personal computer and is then used to personalize the site when the visitor returns.

By adhering to The American Library in Paris’ “Policy on Confidentiality of Library Records,” our staff understands that access to patron, transaction, and collection files is strictly limited to Library business. Information about patrons and patrons’ transactions will not be made available to any unauthorized individual or to any external agency.

Our patrons should be aware that they are subject to the privacy policies of any other websites and organizations that they visit and use when connected via the Library’s Wi-Fi network. For further information regarding the use of the Internet and computers at The American Library in Paris, please refer to our Internet Access Policy.

Electronic communication

We appreciate staying in touch with you and ensuring that you receive all the latest news and details of events and programs at the American Library in Paris. Members of the American Library in Paris are added to our mailing list for e-Libris, our electronic newsletter, and other occasional email announcements about the Library. At any time, you can update your details or unsubscribe if you prefer to not receive any further information from us by clicking on the ‘unsubscribe’ link included in each issue of e-Libris.

Members are asked to provide a current email address during the membership application and renewal process. Our Integrated Library System (ILS) sends automatic email messages regarding items checked in and out, renewals, holds, due dates, fees and fines, and membership expiry date reminders. Please let us know if you would prefer to receive this information by post so we may update your account accordingly.

If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us at info@americanlibraryinparis.org.

General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) statement

As a reminder to our community, protection of patrons’ privacy and confidentiality has always been a core value at the American Library in Paris, as it is for libraries around the world. We are committed to guarding your personal information and keeping it secure, and to complying with all regulations stipulated by the current European General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) in effect.

If you would like to know what personal data is stored in our membership database, please send an email to info@americanlibraryinparis.org with the subject line, “GDPR data verification request.” If you would like your personal information deleted from our membership database once your membership has expired, please send an email to info@americanlibraryinparis.org with the subject line, “GDPR data deletion request.” Paper membership applications are destroyed and online memberships are deleted thirteen (13) months after being submitted.

If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Reviewed and updated August 2024