The International Coalition of Library Consortia (ICOLC) announces the release of new Privacy Guidelines.   Now available on the ICOLC web site are the “PRIVACY GUIDELINES FOR ELECTRONIC RESOURCES VENDORS.  The issuance of this document reflects the dynamic nature of information services to libraries and the need for library consortia to influence the practices of the vendor community on a global basis.

The Privacy Guidelines focus on the privacy interests of our member libraries’ users in the interest of informing the companies with which we do business about what is acceptable in the products and services that we license.  A cardinal principle of librarianship is that the privacy of the library users with respect to their information seeking is to be protected, and the members of the ICOLC are committed to this principle.

This Guideline is initially endorsed by 60 library consortia from around the world.  More consortia endorsements will be added as received.  The complete text and the complete set of original and updated Statements and Guidelines with endorsing library consortia and additional information about the ICOLC can be found at http://www.library.yale.edu/consortia.

About the International Coalition of Library Consortia (ICOLC)
The International Coalition of Library Consortia (ICOLC) has been in existence since 1996.  The Coalition is an international, informal group currently comprising over 160 library consortia in North America, Europe, Australia, Asia, and Africa.  The member consortia serve all types and sizes of libraries.  ICOLC facilitates discussion among consortia on issues of common interest, and conducts two meetings per year in North America and one meeting per year in Europe.  The organization is dedicated to keeping its members informed about electronic information resources, pricing practices of electronic publishers and vendors, and other issues of importance to consortium directors and governing boards.  The Coalition also meets with the information provider community to discuss product offerings and issues of mutual concern.

More information about ICOLC can be found at http://www.library.yale.edu/consortia or contact Tom Sanville, Executive Director, OhioLINK, Columbus OH.  Phone: 614-728-3600 ext. 322; tom@ohiolink.edu

For further information about the Privacy Guidelines, please contact:

George Rickerson, MOBIUS, Executive Director, 3215 B Lemone Industrial Blvd., Columbia, MO  65201; rickersong@umsystem.edu; Phone: 573-882-7233; Fax 573-884-3395