Procedures for protection of privacy and personal information
As part of the University of New England, the UNE Libraries are subject to the NSW Privacy and Personal Information Protection Act 1998 (NSW), as well as the Privacy Act 1988 (Commonwealth) as amended in the Privacy Amendment (Private Sector) Act 2000 (Commonwealth).
The University Library adheres to the University of New England's Privacy Management Plan, drawn up in accordance with section 33 of the NSW Act. Further details of the University's policy regarding privacy are available from the University of New England Privacy Statement.
This page is intended to reassure visitors to the University Library site regarding any personal information that is collected during their visit, how this information is used, and if it will be disclosed. In addition, it explains how personal information collected in the course of the Libraries' operations is managed and secured.
Recording your visit to this site
When you visit the University Library site, the servers managed by the UNE Information Technology Division record certain information. This information includes the following:
- the address of your server
- the date and time of access
- the pages you viewed
- the files you downloaded
- the type of browser you used.
In addition, if you use your UNE username and password to access particular pages or sites, this authentication will be recorded automatically.
We make no effort to identify individual Web users, nor do we use cookies to gather personal information.
On a regular basis, we use aggregate data collected by the IT Division to determine usage of our resources. However, such information is not provided to us in any form that would allow us to identify an individual user.
Email addresses
If you send us an email, we will use your email address only for the purpose for which it has been supplied (ie to reply to your messages and to contact you in future). It will not be disclosed to a third party without your consent. Email addresses provided to us in this manner are kept on personal computers behind the University's firewall. The University has in place policies and procedures designed to ensure a reasonable level of security for this information.
Electronic forms
We have placed a number of electronic forms on this site for the purpose of facilitating your use of library services. The information you provide when filling out these forms will be used only to process your request. Provision of this information is voluntary. However, if you do not supply any necessary information we may not be able to act effectively on your request.
Where necessary, we have placed these forms inside a secure socket layer (SSL) to minimise the risk of electronic interception.
In addition, we have provided alternative methods of service access, such as telephone contact numbers and postal addresses. If you have any concerns whatsoever about the security of our electronic forms, please use these alternatives.
Although we (reluctantly) accept email requests which include credit card information, you are advised to avoid this practice as inherently insecure. You do so at your own risk. Please use the online forms, mail or the telephone.
Personal information supplied by non-UNE staff and students
All staff and students of AVCC member institutions are eligible for borrowing privileges at the University of New England libraries. To apply for these privileges, individuals must provide a minimum of personal information, that needed to administer Library patron records. The provision of this information is voluntary. However, if applicants do not supply all the requested information the Library may not be able to process the application.
Reciprocal borrowers have the right to access and/or correct any personal information held by the University, subject to the reasonable convenience of the University.
Personal information
Information concerning the names, addresses and contact details of UNE staff and students is supplied to the University Library by other units of the University to enable us to manage our collection.
This information is held in a password-protected system behind the University's firewall.
The University Library will always try to maintain accurate, complete and up-to-date information regarding borrowers' address and their contact details. This information will not be disclosed to third parties without your consent unless this disclosure is required by law and requested in an authorised written form or if it is reasonably believed to be necessary to prevent or lessen a serious threat to the life or health of any person.
The necessary procedures are in place to facilitate amendments and verification of personal information. You have the right to request access to and /or correct any personal information concerning you held by the University Library or accessed by Library staff from UNE databases. Routine enquiries, corrections and changes are handled informally without set procedures and should be directed to your Faculty Office in the first instance. Alternatively, you can contact Dixson Library, on 02 6773 2458 or email Ask-a-Librarian.
Requests for access to your information that are not satisfied by this informal process may require a formal application under the NSW Freedom of Information Act 1998 or the NSW Privacy and Personal Information Protection Act 1998. Please contact the University's Freedom of Information Officer or the Privacy Officer regarding such applications.