Library workers from 4 public libraries from 3/22 through 3/28 BA 3/22 -15, CL 3/28 -25, PB – 4, PA – 3. (questions were changed, added & reordered)

What is important to you personally about privacy? ID theft, phone spam, tendency to impose morals on others, free speech, respect private space, MYOB, political, eves dropping software, phone, credit card, stay out of public eye, they have files on everyone, safety, not judged by association. Bank records, medical, credit cards, ease of getting personal info from Internet & databases, selling of lists e.g. DMV & schools. How info will be used, who will have access, government doesn’t need to know everything, Big Brother, safety, protect self, credit & finances, similar name confused financial records. People are complex & privacy protects their complexity, should be free to explore as long as don’t act out antisocially, should have the right to think whatever, no need for cameras on roads, growing issue – facial recognition, Internet tracking – do patrons realize? People like sheep, don’t like stores that ask for personal information – intrusive.

What information about yourself are you comfortable in giving out? Weren’t asked question, work email, opinions. Weren’t asked question. Ask why first, not even last name – cover on employee badge, Amazon recommendations, cookies, know purpose and use. What’s necessary to situation – I decide – won’t input medical info on web form, but if you don’t they may - always a risk of leak, have to trust their ability to protect data – stolen laptops, cracking.

What makes you want to say, “That’s none of your business!” and to whom? Same question, telemarketers, stores. Opening an account, no balance of rights, don’t give SS#, giving out name as public servant, erosion of 1st Amendment rights, sex crime database v safety need to know, imprisoned without trial. Children’s rights, when feel attacked, any time, sales clerk at Radio Shack – marketing demographics. Telephone solicitors, must choose situations, e.g.fill out form to get grocery card – need knowledge, no choice – electronic tracking, knock on door, delete cookies.

What do you think of when I ask you about privacy? Fascism, lack of privacy, Big Brother, no such thing, I don’t think about it, celebrity gossip, IT, RFID, DNA. Fed government power, lack checks & balances, public apathy, public ignorance, government secrecy, feel paranoid, guarded on wireless, needed to give SS# for Sudafed, international – my data in India, Nigerian scam. Question is too vague, Internet, why do you want to know? Generational differences, unequal skills at getting info, satellites. Personal ID – SS#, address, interests – library – profile thoughts, what you try to understand, chilling – humans must think and explore, buying habits, employee monitoring, public places.

What influences in our society are changing how we think about privacy? Weren’t asked question, very large databases & automated correlations, gossip about politicians, spam, cell phone cameras. News, Internet, Bush administration, terrorism, gossip on TV, names on no fly list, don’t put tax refund in ATM – Homeland Security will check on you, stories about ID theft, monitoring credit record for misuse, occasions when should have been asked for ID. Internet & email, computer transactions, news, sensationalist media – tell all. Political climate, global situation, ID theft, government collection info – do we trust? Younger people giving it all away – don’t see cost, MySpace, phishing, mirror sites, potential damage is huge, sexual orientation, driver license questioned because member of org for blind.

How do you feel about privacy? Same question, part of human dignity, freedom of thought. Worry, paranoia, shredding, library confidentiality v customer convenience, want records & data deleted, need expertise to purge, don’t know what’s out there e.g. old photocopier hard drive, why are they retaining info? Important to establish boundaries, but individuals have own standards & preferences. Feel criminalized for wanting privacy, guard mine and others, draw boundary, hard to guard because not tangible, hard to articulate extent.

What concerns do you have about privacy? Same question, Patriot Act, business making a buck off my preferences, security of data, nosy neighbors, keeping private life private. ID theft, close blinds in my home & neighborhood, safety, crisscross directory, real estate records online. Less & less of it, devices – snooping on cordless phones, don’t know – have no way of knowing what’s out there, what’s being done to protect my data? Grocery cards – hacking database. Red light cameras are/are not invasive of privacy – need limits on surveillance, need to be informed when cameras in use, VDOT - who watches watchers to keep them from peeping, employee screening for confidentiality. Abuse, Patriot Act, phone taps, what if someone doesn’t like me and uses abuse of Patriot Act? Nebulous – what gets protected – my private may not match neighbors’.

What types of information could hurt a person if made public? Voting records, religion, criminal records, youthful follies, counseling, rehab, demographic-type data, sexual orientation, ID theft, memberships, sometimes nationality. Financial, criminal, medical, employment, likes & dislikes e.g. MySpace, shifting boundaries of private, Googling name e.g. genealogy - new protocols, associations, relatives. Sex offender if convicted lost right to privacy, unfounded accusations, financial, SS#, driver’s license, books checked out of library e.g. divorce, children’s age & other info. Personally identifying – address, last name, SS#, asking for info that’s not relevant, e.g. spouse’s birthday, almost anything depending on use, medical, association with someone or something.

What information about others do you feel you need to know? Changed question. Criminal record, gender, depends – public figure? That staff who handle confidential data are trustworthy. What you need to fill their request, googled job applicants to protect client confidentiality, background checks before work with children, security clearance, what police can ask, access to info v ability to interpret wisely. Contact for work purposes, emergency, billing. Depends on service provided, e.g. insurance needs SS#, requied v optional on form, need to think of privacy alternatives for procedures.

What decisions have you made about your privacy? Do you take any actions to protect your privacy? Or, have you decided it is too much trouble or it is hopeless? Feeling of doom, want to know how to protect, don’t call list doesn’t work, caller ID, google someone, email on public computer at risk, no info to sales clerk, pay cash, pay online, review credit record, shred mail. Don’t sign back of credit card – use picture ID instead, no SS# on check, shred, no PII over phone, jury duty scam, concerned about elderly coping, check credit report, ask charity to mail request. Doesn’t help so why not take convenience? No cookies, don’t give info to unknown people, don’t bank online, careful where I click, careful when traveling. Shred, careful what I give out, what I do online, email aliases & passwords, running to stay in place, do we want 1984? A lot of work and inconvenience, climate of public opinion no longer rights-oriented.

Are you surprised at any of this that you’ve heard today? poor question. Schools selling names - FOIA? No. No.

Is privacy an important topic for(to) the public to discuss? Yes, not necessarily, the law is the law, no privacy in public place, poor question. Yes, what kind? Don’t know how to protect self, physical description, machine card readers, SS#, credit, photo. Yes, where to cut off what children are exposed to, ID theft, so much information out there – Reference USA favors unscrupulous as well as business & marketing, no control, HIPAA, information age, $3 for other peoples PO forwarding addresses, want options – unsubscribe & time limits on retention. Yes, patrons are concerned, Patriot Act, news, not as important as it should be, wish it were, people are too accepting of intrusion, privacy vigilance creates suspicion – what are you hiding?