As school librarians, it is our responsibility to implement practices that safeguard student privacy. In addition, we are responsible for helping students learn about their own privacy rights and how to keep their personal information secure.
American Library Association (ALA): Privacy - Students & Minors
"Library users of all ages have a right to privacy. When students enter a school library, two expectations of privacy should be guaranteed:
The right to read and borrow library materials free from scrutiny regardless of age, and
The right to seek information and have the subject of academic and personal research remain private
However, library workers in K-12 schools are bound to federal laws that those in public libraries may not be. In addition to state laws on the confidentiality of library records, library workers who serve students and minors need to have an understanding of the federal privacy laws. For example, laws such as the Family Educational Rights Act (FERPA) give parents or caregivers rights to access the educational records of their students in K-12. FERPA also denies parents or caregivers access to their student’s records when students reach 18."
NC General Statute 125-18 and 125-19
This section of North Carolina law refers specifically to library records. Most importantly, it dictates what information in library records can/cannot be accessed, by whom, and in what circumstances.
For our purposes, students are minors for whom parent(s) and legal guardian(s) have a legal right to records, including the record of what students have checked out presently and historically. Under this statute, the student and their legal guardian(s) can request a record of their library behavior, like circulation history. You, as the school librarian, can access records in accordance with the normal operations of the library. You can also use circulation and search data when it is anonymized.
What is not permitted is for anyone else, including school staff and administrators (yes, even your principal), to request a student’s library record unless such direction originates with the parent(s) or legal guardian(s) or the student themself.
Students use self-checkin and self-checkout;
Students find their account in Destiny by scanning a library card or typing in their student ID (rather pulling up their homeroom and clicking on their picture)
Self check-out - Setting up self check-out can remove barriers to access for students (they can check out books even if you're teaching), protect patron privacy, and help students be independent library users. See self check-out in action in this brief video.
Printing patron barcodes - Some librarians find it helpful to print patron barcodes and make library cards for students to scan, instead of typing their student ID. You might choose to do this as a scaffold for younger students.
Students learn to monitor their own Destiny account to check for overdue books.
Common Sense Media K-12 Digital Citizenship Lessons about privacy and safety