Privacy:  The Huntington Public Library recognizes that it is critical for individuals and businesses to be confident that their privacy is protected when they visit the HPL website or mobile app, HuntingtonPublicLibraryNY, and is committed to protecting the privacy of our patrons and library users. (800-II) Consistent with the provisions of the Internet Security and Privacy Act, the Freedom of Information Law, and the Personal Privacy Protection Law, this policy describes the HPL's privacy practices regarding information collected from users of this website or mobile app, HuntingtonPublicLibraryNY. This policy describes what information is collected and how that information is used.

Because this privacy policy only applies to this website, or mobile app, HuntingtonPublicLibraryNY, you should examine the privacy policy of any website, including other state agency websites, that you access using this website or mobile app, HuntingtonPublicLibraryNY.

For purposes of this policy, "personal information" means any information concerning a natural person, as opposed to a corporate entity, which, because of name, number, symbol, mark, or other identifier, can be used to identify that natural person. The HPL only collects personal information about you when you provide that information voluntarily by sending an e-mail or by initiating an online transaction, such as a survey, registrationregistration, or order form.

Information Collected Automatically When You Visit this Website or mobile app, HuntingtonPublicLibraryNY

When visiting this website or mobile app, HuntingtonPublicLibraryNY, the HPL automatically collects and stores the following information about your visit:

(i)   The Internet Protocol Address and domain name used, but not the e-mail address. The Internet Protocol Address is a numerical identifier assigned either to your Internet service provider or directly to your computer;

(ii)   The type of browser and operating system you used;

(iii)  The date and time you visited this site;

(iv)  The web pages or services you accessed at this site;

(v)  The web site you visited prior to coming to this web site;

(vi)  The web site you visit as you leave this web site; and

(vii) If you downloaded a form, the form that was downloaded.

None of the foregoing information is deemed to constitute personal information.

The information that is collected automatically is used to improve this website's content and to help the HPL understand how users are interacting with the website or mobile app, HuntingtonPublicLibraryNY. This information is collected for statistical analysis, to determine what information is of most and least interest to our users, and to improve the utility of the material available on the website. The information is not collected for commercial marketing purposes and the HPL is not authorized to sell or otherwise disclose the information collected from the website for commercial marketing purposes.

Cookies

Cookies are simple text files stored on your web browser to provide a means of distinguishing among users of this website or mobile app, HuntingtonPublicLibraryNY.  The use of cookies is a standard practice among Internet websites.  To better serve you, we use "session cookies" to enhance or customize your visit to this website or mobile app, HuntingtonPublicLibraryNY. Session cookies can be created automatically on the device you use to access this state agency website.                                                                         

These session cookies do not contain personal information and do not compromise your privacy or security.  We may use the cookie feature to store a randomly generated identifying tag on the device you use to access this website. 

A session cookie is erased during operation of your browser or when your browser is closed.

If you wish, you may complete a registration to personalize this website and permit a "persistent cookie" to be stored on your computer's hard drive. This persistent cookie will allow the website to recognize you when you visit again and tailor the information presented to you based on your needs and interests. The HPL uses persistent cookies only with your permission.

The software and hardware you use to access the website allows you to refuse new cookies or delete existing cookies. Refusing or deleting these cookies may limit your ability to take advantage of some features of this website.

Information Collected When You E-mail this Website or mobile app, HuntingtonPublicLibraryNY or Initiate an Online Transaction

During your visit to this website or mobile app, HuntingtonPublicLibraryNY you may send an e-mail to the HPL.  Your e-mail address and the contents of your message will be collected.  The information collected is not limited to text characters and may include audio, video, and graphic information formats included in the message. Your e-mail address and the information included in your message will be used to respond to you, to address issues you identify, to improve this website or mobile app, HuntingtonPublicLibraryNY, or to forward your message to another State agency for appropriate action.  Your e-mail address is not collected for commercial purposes and the HPL is not authorized to sell or otherwise disclose your e-mail address for commercial purposes.

During your visit to this website or mobile app, HuntingtonPublicLibraryNY,  you may initiate a transaction such as a survey, registration, or order form. The information, including personal information, volunteered by you in initiating the transaction is used by the HPL to operate HPL programs, which include the provision of goods, services, and information. The information collected by the HPL may be disclosed by the HPL for those purposes that may be reasonably ascertained from the nature and terms of the transaction in connection with which the information was submitted.

The HPL does not knowingly collect personal information from children or create profiles of children through this website or mobile app, HuntingtonPublicLibraryNY. Users are cautioned, however, that the collection of personal information submitted in an e-mail or through an online transaction will be treated as though it was submitted by an adult, and may, unless exempted from access by federal or sState law, be subject to public access. The HPL strongly encourages parents and teachers to be involved in children's Internet activities and to provide guidance whenever children are asked to provide personal information online.

Information and Choice

As noted above, the HPL does not collect any personal information about you during your visit to this website or mobile app, HuntingtonPublicLibraryNY unless you provide that information voluntarily by sending an e-mail or initiating an online transaction such as a survey, registration, or order form. You may choose not to send us an e-mail, respond to a survey, or complete an order form. While your choice not to participate in these activities may limit your ability to receive specific services or products through this website, it will not prevent you from requesting services or products from HPL by other means and will not normally have an impact on your ability to take advantage of other features of the website, including browsing or downloading most publicly available information.

Disclosure of Information Collected Through This Website or mobile app, HuntingtonPublicLibraryNY

The collection of information through this website and the disclosure of that information are subject to the provisions of the Internet Security and Privacy Act. The HPL will only collect personal information through this website or mobile app, HuntingtonPublicLibraryNY or disclose personal information collected through this website or mobile app, HuntingtonPublicLibraryNY if the user has consented to the collection or disclosure of such personal information. Participation in an online transaction resulting in the disclosure of personal information to the HPL by the user, whether solicited or unsolicited, constitutes consent to the collection and disclosure of the information by the HPL for the purposes reasonably ascertainable from the nature and terms of the transaction.

However, the HPL may collect or disclose personal information without user consent if the collection or disclosure is: (1) necessary to perform the statutory duties of the HPL, or necessary for the HPL to operate a program authorized by law, or authorized by state or federal statute or regulation; (2) made pursuant to a court order or by law; (3) for the purpose of validating the identity of the user; or (4) of information to be used solely for statistical purposes that is in a form that cannot be used to identify any particular person.

Further, the disclosure of information, including personal information, collected through this website or mobile app, HuntingtonPublicLibraryNY, is subject to the provisions of the Freedom of Information Law and the Personal Privacy Protection Law.

The HPL may disclose personal information to federal or state law enforcement authorities to enforce the HPL's rights against unauthorized access or attempted unauthorized access to the HPL's information technology assets or against other inappropriate use of this website or mobile app, HuntingtonPublicLibraryNY.

Confidentiality and Integrity of Personal Information Collected Through this Website or mobile app, HuntingtonPublicLibraryNY

The HPL is strongly committed to protecting personal information collected through this website or mobile app, HuntingtonPublicLibraryNY, against unauthorized access, use, or disclosure. Consequently, the HPL limits employee access to personal information collected through this website to only those employees who need access to the information in the performance of their official duties. Employees who have access to this information are required to follow appropriate procedures in connection with any disclosures of personal information.

For website security purposes and to maintain the availability of the website or mobile app, HuntingtonPublicLibraryNY, for all users, the HPL employs software to monitor traffic to identify unauthorized attempts to upload or change information or otherwise damage this website.

All patron information including circulation and registration information and information accessed online is confidential as required by NY State Law and is not disclosed to anyone other than the registered party, a party presenting a waiver from the borrower, or a person with a court order granting accessibility.  The confidentiality of library records is governed by New York State Civil Practice Law and Rules Section 4509, which reads as follows:

Library records, which contain names or other personally identifying details regarding the users of public, free association, school, college and university libraries and library systems of this state, including but not limited to records related to the circulation of library materials, computer database searches, interlibrary loan transactions, reference queries, requests for photocopies of library materials, title reserve requests, or the use of audio-visual materials, films or records, shall be confidential and shall not be disclosed except that such records may be disclosed to the extent necessary for the proper operation of such library and shall be disclosed upon request or consent of the user or pursuant to subpoena, court order or where otherwise required by statute.

All users are advised that any library record or other information collected by the library as described herein is subject to disclosure pursuant to subpoena, court order, or as otherwise authorized by applicable law.

The Huntington Public Library Board of Trustees reserves the right to change this policy at any time and you are advised to check periodically for any changes.  The Library also reserves the right to terminate a patron’s use of library equipment and services if that individual is in violation of policy.

Disclaimer

The information provided in this privacy policy should not be construed as giving business, legal, or other advice, or warranting as fail proof, the security of information provided through this website.

Links

In order to provide users with certain information, the HPL provides links to the websites of local, State, and federal government agencies, and to the websites of other organizations. A link does not constitute an endorsement of the content, viewpoint, accuracy, opinions, policies, products, services, or accessibility of that website. Once you link to another website from this website or mobile app, HuntingtonPublicLibraryNY, including one maintained by the State, you are subject to the terms and conditions of that website, including, but not limited to, its Internet privacy policy.    

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